“Off the Clock, Still on the Mark: A Farewell to RADM Johnston”

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On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, I traveled from Washington, D.C. to New London, Connecticut to witness a milestone in the life of a friend, colleague, and one of the finest leaders I’ve ever worked alongside—Rear Admiral Mike Johnston.

The following morning, on July 16, the United States Coast Guard Academy hosted a Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony that was equal parts precision and emotion.

RADM Johnston, the 43rd Superintendent of the Academy, was formally relieved by RADM Greg Rothrock the now 44th Superintendent.

The Change of Command followed traditional military protocol, speeches, reading of orders, reviewing of troops, etc. but the day held much more than just ceremony—it was a powerful tribute to decades of faithful service, and hundreds of years of tradition that this nation was built upon.

This post is about my friend and colleague Mike Johnston, but I would be remiss to not point out that I’ve also had the privilege of knowing RADM Greg Rothrock since his days as a Commander. He’s another outstanding officer and public servant—steadfast, brilliant, and deeply mission-focused. The Academy is in good hands.

The event drew senior leadership from across the Coast Guard—Mr. Sean Plankey Senior Advisor the the Secretary of the Coast Guard,

Kevin Lunday (Acting Commandant),

the Acting Vice Commandant,

state officials, and the mayor of New London, and leaders from various action groups. The presence of so many distinguished guests reflected what everyone in the room already knew: Mike Johnston had made an impact worth honoring!

Mike and I go back to 2018, when he took the helm as CG-93, the Program Executive Officer for all Coast Guard acquisition.

I was serving as the Assistant Program Executive Officer, overseeing the entire surface portfolio—ships, boats, and major shore investments totaling around $2 billion annually.

It was a time of explosive growth and tremendous pressure. At that time the US Coast Guard had not seen this kind of growth since WWII, we are growing, hiring, and managing a thousand different things, and trust me, someone across the chain of command always has "an opinion" on how things can be better.

I could write a hundred blogs on everything that was going on. But to touch on a few.

We implemented the Coast Guard’s first integrated master schedule, navigated the chaos following a Category 5 hurricane that destroyed the shipyard building our $10B Offshore Patrol Cutter fleet, and had to make difficult calls using PL 85-804 authorities—an environment where the stakes were high, the days were long, and failure was not an option.

Those experiences forge strong bonds. Mike and I became more than colleagues—we became trusted friends.

What always struck me about Mike was his infectious optimism.

No matter the weight of the task or the size of the storm, he was smiling, joking, and charging forward.

He’s a devoted family man, an eternal student, and one of the most prepared leaders I’ve ever worked with.

He shows up.

He invests in people. And when he leads, you want to follow.

The retirement ceremony, held in Leamy Hall, brought all of that into focus. His daughter sang the National Anthem—a deeply moving start to an already poignant day. Then came the flag ceremony.

If you’ve never witnessed one, it's powerful. Each rank a service member has held is represented by another member in that uniform, passing the U.S. flag hand to hand, with stories and milestones shared from each phase of the honoree’s career.

For Mike, that spanned from Ensign to Rear Admiral (Upper Half). Thirty-six years of active duty, plus four at the Academy.

You could feel the weight of it—not as burden, but as honor. A life in service, embodied in a flag.

After the ceremony, the reception was everything you’d hope for: good food, cold drinks, and a talented U.S. Coast Guard band providing the soundtrack to laughter, photos, and one last round of handshakes and shoulder claps.

It was first class in every way.

Now, Mike embarks on a new mission. He and his wonderful wife are hitting the road in their travel trailer—taking time to decompress, reconnect, and rediscover the country they served. They’re doing what so many of us dream of: turning the page, embracing the next chapter, and soaking in the freedom they’ve earned.

So, as they cruise our nation's highways, discovering its beauty and building their next adventure together, I raise my glass once more.

Semper Paratus, Mike. You stand relieved—but the watch continues.

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