It is with immense pride and heartfelt admiration that we announce General Ronald Johnson as the 39th Black Engineer of the Year.
Ronald Johnson is currently the senior vice president of strategic initiatives and chief of staff with President Ángel Cabrera and is a professor of practice with the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE).
Ron’s journey is a testament to the power of determination, vision, and an unwavering commitment to serve others. His career began in the Army, where he rose to the rank of Major General, overseeing critical infrastructure projects in Iraq and rebuilding communities after disasters like Hurricane Katrina. The stakes were always high, but Ron thrived in high-pressure environments because he understood that leadership is about service, about putting others first and creating opportunities for those who come after you.
“Ron’s leadership has always been about more than just engineering or command,” said General Johnnie Wilson, himself a legend in the military and a past BEYA honoree. “He embodies service and integrity, with a steadfast commitment to lifting others as he climbs.” That’s exactly who Ron is—a man who never lets personal achievements overshadow the greater good.
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He has been recognized with numerous awards and decorations, including the:
Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star, and Legion of Merit
Recipient of the 2003 Black Engineer of the Year Award for Professional Achievement in Government Service
Inductee into the 2005 Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni at Georgia Tech
Recipient of the 2008 Black Engineer Lifetime Achievement Award
Received the Trailblazer Award from the Georgia Tech Black Alumni Organization
Received the Georgia Tech Alumni Association's Joseph Pettit Distinguished Service Award
Johnson is an emeritus trustee for the Georgia Tech Foundation, served as a Georgia Tech Alumni Association Trustee from 2015 to 2018, served on the Georgia Tech Advisory Board from 2020 to 2023, and has provided an endowment for two student scholarships.
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Full story by Tyrone D. Taborn