Ashley Johnson is the technical director of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD). He directs a multi-site
workforce of approximately 2,700 employees with annual operations of more than $1 billion.

NSWC IHD is charged with leading the Department of Navy in providing energetics, ordnance and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technical capabilities for all Department of Defense interests through research, development, testing, evaluation, engineering, manufacturing and in-service support. During his tenure as technical director, Johnson led the development of several major initiatives: a comprehensive strategic plan to revitalize and reinvigorate the facility and workload, a business case analysis to ensure optimal capabilities are maintained and developed, and the implementation of Center for Industrial Technical

Excellence partnerships. Johnson also serves under the Chief Engineer of the Navy as the Deputy Warrant Of􀏐icer for Explosive Ordnance Engineering (SEA-O5E).

Johnson began his career at the former NSWC Indian Head Division in 1987 and spent the next 12 years managing the command’s manufacturing operations for missile, torpedo and projectile warhead production. From 1999 to 2001, he managed and directed facilities and personnel within the command’s
Surface Weapons and Ammunition Program. Johnson served as the Navy’s official spokesperson for the scale-up and production of nitramine gun propellants during the Gulf War.

From 2006 to 2014, Johnson served as the acting department head and director for the Of􀏐ice of Naval Research’s Hybrid Complex Warfare Science Division, where he managed and directed the integration of a science and technology (S&T) program consisting of basic and applied research, advanced technology
development and other efforts. He also served as the applications director in the Expeditionary Maneuver  Warfare and Combating Terrorism S&T Department, where he oversaw both the Future Naval Capability and Exploration and Development programs.

Johnson’s other assignments included a tour as the S&T advisor at U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific where he served with the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command to include a deployment with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Johnson completed his undergraduate studies in 1987 and has a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. He graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 2008 as the Commandant’s Distinguished Graduate and has a Master of Science in national resource strategy. He completed the Defense Acquisition University Senior Acquisition
Course, Navy Strategic Thinking Course and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI. Johnson received the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 2006 and the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award in 2013, and was selected to the Senior Executive Service in 2013.