Giving back
Dr. Ron Johnson, a retired senior master sergeant, perhaps best exemplifies the intrinsic value of enlisted Airmen and higher education. He came from a poor family where no one attended college. As he rose through the enlisted ranks in the services career field, he also never attended college but accumulated enough college credit through military courses to put him within 11 semester hours of an associate’s degree.
His commander, Lt. Col. Charles Carr, called him into his office one day and encouraged him to take college courses to better his chances of promotion to senior master sergeant. Dr. Johnson took his advice and discovered he “felt at home in the classroom.” His extended classroom included Saudi Arabia where he took night classes while overseeing the feeding of 5,000 troops.
After completing his master’s degree, he deployed to Bosnia in 1998 when he learned that a doctorate program had just become available in Europe through the University of Oklahoma. Once again, he heeded the encouragement of his commander who told him a doctorate would be great for him and the Air Force.
He began in 1999 and was awarded his doctorate in December 2003. He retired in 2001 and currently works as the director of instructional programs for Central Texas College, Europe Campus in Mannheim, Germany.
Had he received his Ph.D. before retiring, he too would have chosen to remain enlisted. “I think you’re more respected for what you do,” he said.
However, a senior enlisted leader once told him at a gathering of senior noncommissioned officers that he considered anyone who took more than two college classes a year to be a full-time student. Dr. Johnson disagrees, pointing out that his time in the classroom only made him a better leader and senior noncommissioned officer.
“I did it [pursued a Ph.D.] because I thought it would help me and the Air Force,” he said, adding that it was mostly because of the Air Force that he continued to pursue higher education, and continues to serve the military community in his current capacity.
“I wanted to give something back. I was so blessed in the Air Force. I’ve dedicated my life to giving back to the Air Force,” he said.
He’s now at the end of his long and arduous journey to obtain a Ph.D., but he said it’s within the grasp of anyone who has the desire.
“I always say it’s possible — look at me.”
