Senior Military Fellows

Admiral Gregory "Grog" Johnson

Admiral Gregory “Grog” Johnson, is a native of Westmanland, Maine. In 1968 he graduated from the University of Maine with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. He was commissioned in 1969 following Aviation Officer Candidate School, and designated a Naval Aviator in 1970.

His initial sea duty assignment was in VA-66 flying the A-7E Corsair II and deploying in USS Independence. Subsequent squadron and sea duty assignments included VA-86 (USS Nimitz); VA-174; Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of VA-105 (Marine Air Group Twelve and USS Forrestal); Deputy Commander, Carrier Air Wing SIX (USS Forrestal); and Commander, Carrier Air Wing Three (USS Dwight D. Eisenhower). Shore duty assignments included: Command and Staff Course, Naval War College (graduating with highest distinction); Systems Analysis Division (OP-96) of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations; F/A-18/A-7 Readiness Officer on the staff Commander Naval Air Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet; Joint Chiefs of Staff as Head of the European Command/Central Command Branch of the Joint Operations Division (JOD), Operations Directorate (J-3); and Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the Executive Assistant to the Chairman.

Admiral Johnson was selected for flag rank in February 1995. His initial flag assignment was as the Director of Operations, Plans, and Policy (N3/N5) on the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet staff. In February 1996, he reported as Commander, Carrier Group Eight/USS Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group where he served until August 1997. In September 1997 he reported as the Senior Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense and was subsequently assigned as the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense in May 1999. Adm. Johnson’s assumed command of the U.S. Sixth Fleet and Naval Striking and Support Forces Southern Europe in October 2000. Adm. Johnson next commanded U.S. Naval Forces, Europe and Joint Force Command, Naples from October 2001 through October 2004. He retired from active duty 01 December 2004.

Admiral Johnson’s decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with three Bronze Oak Leafs), Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with two Gold Stars), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with two Gold Stars), NATO Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and various service and campaign awards.

Since retiring in December 2004, Admiral Johnson has founded Snow Ridge Associates, which provides strategic advice and counsel. 

General Ronald Keys

General Ronald E. Keys retired from the U.S. Air Force in November 2007.  His last position was Commander of the Air Combat Command (ACC) and the Air Component Commander for U.S. Joint Forces Command, headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. General Keys was responsible for organizing, training, equipping and maintaining combat-ready forces for rapid deployment and employment while ensuring strategic air defense forces were ready to meet the challenges of peacetime air sovereignty and wartime defense. ACC operates more than 1,200 aircraft, 27 wings, 17 bases and more than 200 operating locations worldwide with 105,000 active-duty and civilian personnel.

When mobilized, the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve contribute more than 800 aircraft and 57,000 people to Air Combat Command. As the Combat Air Forces lead agent, ACC develops strategy, doctrine, concepts, tactics and procedures for air and space power employment. The command provides conventional, nuclear and information warfare forces to all unified commands to ensure air, space and information superiority for warfighters and national decision-makers. ACC can also be called upon to assist national agencies with intelligence, surveillance and crisis response capabilities.

General Keys, a distinguished graduate of Kansas State University’s ROTC program, was commissioned in 1967 and is an outstanding graduate of undergraduate pilot training. He has commanded a fighter squadron, the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School, an F-15 wing, an A/OA-10 and F-16 wing, the Combat Air Forces Operational Test and Evaluation Wing, a numbered air force, and Allied Air Forces Southern Europe. Additionally, General Keys was the first commander of the Air Force Doctrine Center, and he has served as an executive assistant to the Air Force Chief of Staff and to an Assistant Secretary of Defense. Prior to his current assignment, he was Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

General Keys’ decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 16 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

General Keys is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours, including more than 300 hours of combat time in Southeast Asia.