Lt. Cmdr. Adam Johnson is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, and received his commission from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2013 with a BS in General Science. He attended the Navy Insights into Industry Management program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business in 2020.
Johnson’s shore tours include Navy Supply Corps School (NSCS) and Program Executive Office (PEO), Aircraft Carriers. At NSCS, he served as a Basic Qualification Course instructor, teaching Disbursing Management, Retail Operations, and Leadership Management from November 2016 to January 2019. Following that, he completed his NAVSUP Weapon System Support, Integrated Logistics Support internship at PEO Aircraft Carriers. Johnson supported the Product Support Manager as the Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages Manager. He also served as Flag Aide to the Program Executive Officer, Rear Adm. James Downey.
Johnson’s sea tours include USS LASSEN (DDG 82), forward deployed in Yokosuka, Japan from July 2014 to October 2016 and USS JOHN P. MURTHA (LPD 26), homeported in San Diego, CA, where he served as Supply Officer from March 2021 to May 2023. Johnson is Surface Warfare Supply Corps Officer and Master Training Specialist qualified. His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (5), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various other awards.
The Warfighter Driven Challenge (WDC) Series is designed to bridge the gap between academic research at the Naval Postgraduate School and the practical, operational challenges faced by the Navy and Marine Corps. The initiative is designed to create a platform for junior officers (JOs) to collaborate directly with civilian researchers at Naval Warfare Centers (WFCs), fostering a dialogue that identifies and addresses real-world warfighter problems.
During my time at NPS, I've seen firsthand how aligning research with operational needs can significantly enhance the impact of our educational programs. By piloting the WDC Series here, we aim to generate critical feedback that will inform a broader, Navy-wide effort, connecting JOs with researchers and engineers, enabling more efficient problem-solving at the tactical edge and ensuring that our education directly contributes to fleet readiness and innovation.
The inspiration for NJOC came about two years after my first operational tour. I was finishing up a two-year rotation as an instructor at Navy Supply Corps School (NSCS) and starting a new assignment at the Program Executive Office (PEO) for Aircraft Carriers. Candidly, at NSCS I learned I didn’t know as much as I thought I did. That tends to become readily obvious when you must teach others. I noticed that my passion and desire for change far outweighed my ability to communicate it. Furthermore, after just a few months at NAVSEA, I learned that many of my frustrations were known problems amongst higher echelon leaders. I simply lacked the insight and understanding of the organization to fully grasp the issues I experienced as a JO.
I've always been taught to provide recommendations vice complaints and that if I could learn more about the Navy, proactively I might be able to improve my input to senior leaders. The logical first step in learning more seemed to be coordinating with my fellow JOs, not just in the Supply Corps, but across all designators. NJOC began as a way for junior officers from various designators to collaborate and share insights. Today, we have over 300 active members and senior partners working together, officially supported by the Chief of Naval Personnel and the Chief of Naval Research.
Our director is embedded within CNP's Commander's Action Group where she can access the thoughts, concerns, and priorities of senior leadership and guide the NJOC enterprise in delivering actionable and relevant feedback to constructively influence decision-making processes. We're well on our way to gathering representatives from every designator community and have even begun working with the Army to help them stand up an equivalent organization (Army Junior Officer Counsel). I hope to see synergy continue at all levels of leadership, from the deckplates to the Joint Chiefs, so we can truly harness the power of our junior officers, increasing lethality, operational effectiveness, innovation, and retention across the DOD.
Collaboration between the Naval Postgraduate School and Warfare Centers (WFCs) is crucial because both institutions share the ultimate mission of supporting the warfighter. Over my decade in the Navy, I've seen how drastically the operational environment has changed. When I first joined, the focus was on gaining diverse experiences and seeing the world. Now, the rhetoric and environment demand that we contribute directly to the fight, even as students.
The resources and expertise at WFCs bridge the gap between academic research and practical application, ensuring that the innovations developed at NPS have a tangible impact when we return to our respective warfare domains. The Naval Warfare Studies Institute (NWSI) plays a pivotal role in this collaboration by leveraging its extensive partnerships and knowledge to guide students from theoretical learning to practical implementation, ensuring our research aligns with and supports fleet needs.
Participating in the Innovation in Action Student Showcase was an incredibly enriching experience. One interaction that stood out was my conversation with two Coast Guard officers about my project. It was both exciting and therapeutic to realize that we shared similar perspectives on the challenges within the Department of Defense. This connection underscored the importance of knowing that we are not alone in facing these issues. Events like the student showcase are vital as they foster a sense of camaraderie and collaboration among students and faculty across different services and academic disciplines. By connecting with others, we can share insights, support each other, and collectively work toward solving complex problems, setting a strong foundation for innovation and mutual support in our military and academic careers.
