Colonel Gray Johnson, Jr.
Chief of Staff, Florida Army National Guard
Colonel Gray Johnson is currently the Chief of Staff for the Florida Army National Guard. He was born and raised in Crawfordville, FL and graduated from Wakulla County High School in 1990. Colonel Johnson graduated from Florida State University in 1994 with a BS in Social Science Education as well as with a commission as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army.
Being a Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty Scholarship recipient, he reported for duty in the Florida Army National Guard after completing the 6-month Signal Officer Basic Course at Fort Gordon. Colonel Johnson served as a traditional Guardsman for seven years, balancing his civilian career as a middle school history teacher and football coach with the duties of a commissioned officer in the Florida Army National Guard.
As a traditional Guardsman, he served as a signal platoon leader, an aid-de-camp, a company executive officer, and as a signal company commander. In 2001, he left his civilian career to become a Title 32 Dual Status Technician as the Education Services Officer for the FLARNG. In 2003, COL Johnson transitioned to the AGR system and has held the duties of Assistant Professor of Military Science at Florida State Univ., S3 and XO of the 146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, Force Integration and Readiness Officer, S3 for Camp Blanding, G38/Readiness Officer for the FLARNG, Commander 146th ESB and G6 for the FLARNG.
Colonel Johnson has deployed twice in support of the War on Terror. He deployed in 2002 in support of Operation Nobel Eagle and Enduring Freedom, and in 2008 in support of the surge in Iraq. He has served the citizens of Florida numerous times in support of hurricane and forest fire support operations, and even deployed to Mississippi in 2005 to help stabilize that state after Hurricane Katrina. The Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Florida Service Medal, the Florida Commendation Medal, and the Parachutist Badge.