Letters from Leaders: Bert Johnston - Leadership Southern Maryland

Letters From Leaders

An LSM Initiative to Inspire and Empower

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
– Maya Angelou

Think of the leaders in your life. They left indelible imprints on you, on the way you see the world, on what you choose to engage with as you go forward.

In Letters from Leaders, we will hear from a cross-section of Southern Maryland leaders intimately familiar with our region and our people. We will be touched by stories from their lives and facets of their experiences they carry with them along their journey. As we explore topics through their eyes and through their hearts, feel the impact of their words, their compassion, and their courage. Perhaps they, too, will leave their imprint on you.

– Matt Scassero, LMd ’07, LSM Leadership Council

Leading from Where You Are: RADM Charles H. “Bert” Johnston, USN (Ret.), LMd ’07

“You are not given permission to lead. You initiate leadership when the situation requires it.”

– RADM Bert Johnston, USN (Ret.), LMd ’07

In his letter, RADM Charles H. “Bert” Johnston, USN (Ret.), reminds us that leadership is not confined to titles or positions—it is a responsibility and opportunity available at every level. He draws on wisdom from his Navy career and beyond, emphasizing preparation, attitude, loyalty to mission, and the power of celebrating others. Along the way, he outlines the enduring value of process, vision, and recognition and encourages us to embrace leadership moments as they arise. Johnston’s message is clear: Wherever you serve, step up, collaborate generously, and lead with purpose.

RADM Charles H. “Bert” Johnston, USN (Ret.), LMd ’07

RADM Bert Johnston, USN (Ret.) is a decorated naval aviator, test pilot, and acquisition leader who served 32 years in the U.S. Navy. After retiring as vice commander of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in 2005, Johnston held senior roles in business and consulting.

Johnston is deeply committed to community service. He is a 2007 graduate of Leadership Maryland; a founding sponsor, past president, and Leadership Council member of Leadership Southern Maryland; and former board president of Historic Sotterley and The Patuxent Partnership. Today, he serves on the College of Southern Maryland Foundation Board of Directors and as co-chair of the St. Mary’s County Family YMCA capital campaign.

One of the most rewarding (and career enhancing) business experiences is having your leadership “catch” you being competent. It can happen in a meeting when you know the answer to an important question; or when you produce a report that exceeds expectations; or when you are the first to recognize a critical issue. All of these give evidence of your dedication and capabilities.

During your career you’ll have many of these opportunities – will you be ready for them?

Business and author Zig Ziglar once said, “Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.” Opportunities often occur at surprising times, so the best way to be ready when they happen is to be constantly prepared.

Your attitude about your company and your role in its success strongly correlates to how motivated you will be to become well prepared. And, just as importantly, how you share your feelings about your company’s mission and goals helps shape how others feel about your company and how well prepared they are going to be.

The best companies are those that have a noble mission and live it every day. It’s easy to feel good about working for them. Great cultures are hard to create but easier to maintain. Once a great culture is created, folks want to revel in it, nurture it, support it. But there are constant distractions and temptations to ignore the compass and stray from the mission’s path.

One of your most important roles as an employee is to be loyal to your company and help keep it on its mission’s path. From wherever you are in the company, help lead it towards that noble mission. Help it stay on the path every day. Help it be the company for whom you, and others, want to work.

Wherever you are in the company, take the lead on issues that impinge on your responsibility. Take the initiative to research the issue; ask questions of others; organize discussions. Go beyond what’s needed to satisfy your boss – make sure YOU are satisfied. Once prepared, resist the urge to tell everyone what you know. Information is received much more effectively when it’s requested.

A wise mentor of mine once told me that an organization’s leader’s job involved three things: Process, Vision, and Recognition.

Process: Ensure your teammates have and know the procedures required to perform their assigned tasks. Ensure these procedures are documented, reviewed and updated periodically.
Vision: Ensure your teammates are clear on the organization’s mission – a noble mission that folks can easily support. Companies need to make money in order to survive, but a stated vision that includes self-serving goals is unlikely to be supported.
Recognition: Be your company’s biggest cheerleader for the company’s mission and for the work done by your teammates to achieve this mission. Recognition is the most neglected and often the most needed of the three.

You should notice that “management” wasn’t listed. That is because a good leader empowers others to manage and little is left for her or him.

Finally, “management” can be empowered down into an organization; “leadership” cannot. You are not given permission to lead. You initiate leadership when the situation requires it.

Wherever you are in the organization, CEO to intern, there will be issues for which you are expected (or allowed) to assume responsibility. Step up to these joyously. Share this responsibility with others that want to help – they are your collaborators, not your competitors. It is amazing how much you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit!

When you are retired and in your rocking chair, these are the work experiences you will re-live with the most satisfaction. So, go make some memories.

RADM Charles H. Bert Johnston, USN (Ret.), LMd ’07

RADM Charles H. “Bert” Johnston, USN (Ret.), LMd ’07

Bert Johnston served in United States Navy for 32 years an aviator, test pilot, and acquisition professional. His command tours were as commanding officer of the Naval Plant Representative Office, Melbourne Australia; as a Major Acquisition Program Manager; and as the commander of the Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, in China Lake, California.

Johnston grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering from Mississippi State University. He entered the navy through the Aviation Officer Candidate Program and was commissioned in October 1973. He received a Master of Science degree in aeronautical systems from the University of West Florida while earning his naval aviator wings in 1975. He served in Attack Squadron 15 aboard USS America, flying the A-7E Corsair with ADM Mark P. Fitzgerald. He next reported to Attack Squadron 174 as an instructor pilot and weapons training officer.

In 1981 Johnston was accepted as an aerospace engineering duty officer. His subsequent sea duty was in the Air Department, USS Forrestal. Johnston received a Master of Science degree in aeronautical engineering (avionics) at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1986. he served as F/A-18 project director, Ordnance Branch head, and chief test pilot, Systems Engineering Test Directorate at the Naval Air Test Center.

Johnston reported to the Naval Plant Representative Office in Melbourne, Australia, in 1989 as the executive officer and later served as commanding officer. From 1992 to 1995, he served in the F/A-18 Program Office, under the program executive officer, Tactical Aircraft Program (PEO TAC), as deputy for production and systems development. He next served as the military director for systems engineering and later as the director of engineering for the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD).

In August 1996, Johnston became Program Manager for Conventional Strike Weapons under the PEO TAC. His promotion to Rear Admiral (Lower Half) was approved by the U.S. Senate in June 1999. While serving as head of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, he was promoted in early March 2000. His further promotion to Rear Admiral (Upper Half) was authorized by the Senate in April 2002.

Johnston retired from the Navy as vice commander of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in 2005. He worked six years in the support services business, serving as a vice president and managing director. He then consulted for seven years, mostly in support of flight test for the Missile Defense Agency.

Johnston’s honors include the Navy Meritorious Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Navy Commendation Medal, a Navy Achievement Medal and nine unit commendation and campaign awards.

Johnston is a 2007 Leadership Maryland graduate and is a founding sponsor, past president, and Leadership Council member of Leadership Southern Maryland. He has served as the president of the Board of Trustees for Historic Sotterley and president of The Patuxent Partnership Board of Directors. He is currently a member of the College of Southern Maryland Foundation Board of Directors and co-chair of the Capital Development Campaign in support of the St. Mary’s Family YMCA.

Johnston and his wife, Beverly, have two children, eight grandchildren, and live in Drayden.

About Matt Scassero, LMd ‘07

Matt Scassero is the Director for Operations and Outreach for the University of Maryland Clark School of Engineering MATRIX Lab at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (USMSM). He promotes the Clark School’s role in the areas of integrated education and research (specifically focusing on autonomous technologies), outreach, and economic/community development. He completed a three-decade career flying off carriers for the Navy, and has both worked and volunteered in the social non-profit sector.

Scassero graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Baltimore, is a Leadership Maryland 2007 graduate and member of the LSM Leadership Council.

About Letters From Leaders

“Letters from Leaders,” a program of The Leadership Table with Matt Scassero, is a monthly series featuring real stories, insights, and reflections from leaders across Southern Maryland. The current theme, “Leading from Where You Are,” explores the many ways leadership happens in everyday moments.

Leadership is a journey, and we invite you to be part of it! Follow along in our newsletter and on social media, and be part of the conversation.

In September we’ll begin to bring these lessons to life with a series of special live events: The Leadership Table with Matt Scassero – featuring “Letters from Leaders.” Join us for dynamic, in-depth conversations, in which Scassero sits down with our six contributing leaders in live, interactive discussions.

Check back each month for a new letter, and stay tuned for details on our Leadership Table live events!