Retired Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson to deliver UNE Commencement address in May

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson

Portland, Maine - The University of New England has announced that retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson will deliver the 2025 Commencement address at its 190th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 17.

Johnson, from Spencer, Iowa, started

out as a small-town cadet and rose through the ranks to become the first woman and 19th superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy, a position she held from 2013 to 2017. In this role, which is similar to that of a college president, she served as the military commander of the academy. 

Her remarkable 36-year military career began at the academy, where she was a 1981 distinguished graduate with a Bachelor of Science in operations research. As a cadet, Johnson broke barriers as the first woman to serve as cadet wing commander and was twice named a basketball Academic All-American. As the first woman Rhodes Scholar in the U.S. Air Force, Johnson earned a Master of Arts in politics and economics from Oxford University. 

Johnson’s military career includes over 3,600 flying hours as a command pilot in various aircraft, flying jet cargo and in-flight refueling tanker aircraft on missions across the globe. She was a professor in political science and an instructor pilot in powered flight for cadets at the Air Force Academy from 1989 to 1992. Johnson's service reached the highest levels of government when she served as Air Force aide for the White House and carried the nuclear launch codes for both Presidents George H.W. Bush and William J. Clinton.

Her leadership roles spanned policy, communications, logistics, and cyber operations. Johnson commanded flying units in the U.S. and abroad. She was deployed many times to Afghanistan and Iraq. In Belgium, she served as NATO’s deputy chief of staff for operations and intelligence at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.

Her path to leadership is marked by numerous firsts and distinguished service, said UNE President James Herbert. 

“Lt. Gen. Johnson came from modest means and worked hard and courageously to get to where she is today. Her perseverance and dedication embody what we aim to instill in our students,” said Herbert, noting that many students at UNE also come from rural parts of the U.S. “Her diverse experiences in global affairs, leadership, and breaking glass ceilings make her an ideal speaker to inspire our graduates as they embark on their own paths of impact and service.”

After retiring from the Air Force, Johnson continued to break new ground as the first woman to serve as senior vice president and head of referee operations for the National Basketball Association, overseeing officiation for the NBA, WNBA, and G League. Johnson currently serves on nonprofit boards supporting veterans, youth sports, and education, leveraging her extensive leadership and global engagement experience.

UNE’s 190th Commencement will take place at 10 a.m. at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland. For more information, visit www.une.edu/commencement.