In 2008-2009, COL John P. "Pete" Johnson commanded Combined Task Force Currahee, which consisted of a combination of over 5,000 American, Czech and Polish military service-members deployed in support of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Regional Command-East, Afghanistan. The CTF Currahee Area of Responsibility covered an over 25K square mile area, roughly the size of West Virginia. The CTF Currahee AOR included the Afghan provinces of Ghazni, Paktika, Khost, Paktya, Logar and Wardak.

Colonel Johnson was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry from the United States Military Academy in 1985.

Following the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Airborne, Ranger and Pathfinder training he was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 17th Infantry, 7th ID (Light), Fort Ord CA where he served as a rifle platoon leader, company executive officer and scout platoon leader. In March of 1988 he received orders for 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, GA with service as a rifle platoon leader and assistant S-3. In December 1990 and following the Infantry Officer Advance Course he was assigned to the 3d Battalion, 325th Airborne Battalion Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy where he served as an assistant S3 and Commander of Charlie Company. He next attended the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, receiving a Master of Science in Operations Analysis. He followed this training with a tour on the Army Staff from July 1995 to July 1997, with duty as a program analyst in ODCSPER. Following the Command and General Staff College, Leavenworth, KS, he served as the Battalion Liaison Officer and later S3 for the 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, WA. In January 2001 he arrived at Fort Bragg, NC where he served with the Joint Special Operations Command as an operational planner and Deputy Chief of Current Operations until May 2003.

COL Johnson commanded 3d Battalion 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (3 PANTHER) from June 2003 until June 2005 and served as the G3, 82d Airborne Division from June 2005 - June 2006. He recently graduated from the U.S. Army War College.

His combat service includes Operation JUST CAUSE, Operation PROVIDE COMFORT, and multiple deployments to Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. His awards, decorations and badges include: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (1 OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead, Southwest Asia Service Medal, GWOT Expeditionary and Service Medals, Humanitarian Service Medal (1 OLC), NATO Service Medal, Army Staff Identification Badge, Master Parachutist Badge with combat jump star, Combat Infantryman's Badge (2d Award), Expert Infantryman's Badge, Pathfinder Badge and Ranger Tab.

COL Johnson and his wife Sheila have two sons, Justin (9), and Daniel (4) and one daughter, Sarah (7).