Jeff Johnson for State Senate

About Jeff

St. Cloud resident Jeff Johnson has officially announced at the March 7 precinct caucus in St. Cloud that he is officially running for state senate (SD) 15 which includes St. Cloud, Rockville, St. Augusta, and Haven Township. Johnson, 41, was born in Chisago City, Minnesota and grew up in Minnesota and Wisconsin. He spent several of his pre-teen years growing up on a Minnesota farm in Winona and his teenage years working on a third generation dairy farm in northwest Wisconsin.

Jeff has been married for eight years to Julie Johnson, M.D., and they have a three year old daughter, Hallie. He is presently an associate professor in the Department of Aviation at St. Cloud State University and owns Ambassador Jet. Jeff was previously an airline and corporate jet pilot in addition to working as a licensed aircraft mechanic. He was an airline ground instructor and a flight instructor.

Julie is a Board Certified family practice physician at HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinic in St. Cloud. She also completed a one year OB fellowship and is presently serving her second year as Medical Director.

"Ladies & gentlemen, this is
your Captain speaking. If you
have a map, please ring your
flight attendant call button!"

Professional Experience

Jeff is currently an associate professor in the Department of Aviation at St. Cloud State University and teaches instrument, commercial, turboprop systems, and advanced aerodynamics courses. He has published almost a dozen aviation related articles in scholarly journals throughout the US and is known as a national expert in developing aviation doctoral programs. Prior to returning home to Minnesota, Jeff flew corporate jets and also has experience flying for regional and cargo airlines. He taught a new hire pilot ground school for a Detroit based airline. Jeff worked for an airline and a jet charter company as a licensed aircraft mechanic. He has previous experience in airport security working as a passenger screener at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Michigan. Jeff also works part time as a real estate salesperson in commercial brokerage/development for a Waite Park based real estate company.

Jeff presiding over spring
2005 awards banquet for the
St. Cloud State University Department of Aviation. He
was the interim chair during the spring 2005 semester.

Education

Jeff has a BS degree in Aeronautical Studies with a minor in Political Science from the University of North Dakota Center for Aerospace Sciences, a Master of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach), and a PhD in Higher Education Administration from Bowling Green State University. He completed a vocational program and is a licensed aircraft mechanic.

He has several professional licenses including an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) with a MU300/Beechjet type rating in addition to holding certified flight and ground instructor certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Jeff believes that learning is a lifelong process. Even as a professor at St. Cloud State University, Jeff has sat in classes "as a student" to improve his teaching. Whether a student is 1 or 100 years old, Jeff strongly believes that education is essential for anyone who wants to enjoy a higher standard of living in a highly competitive workforce.

Former Nebraska Governor
Mike Johanns (left) and former Nebraska Attorney General
Don Stenberg (right).

Previous Political Races and Endorsements

Jeff was an active member of the Blair Municipal Airport Authority in Blair, Nebraska before moving to Minnesota. Prior to becoming a member of the airport authority, Jeff was appointed as chair of the Blair Municipal Airport Zoning Commission. He was a candidate for the Nebraska Board of Regents endorsed by Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns who was recently appointed by President George W. Bush as Secretary of the
US Department of Agriculture and US Senator Chuck Hagel, a possible 2008 presidential contender.

Jeff was the Washington County (NE) chair for Don Stenberg for US Senate. His responsibilities ranged from working with mass mailings, developing and maintaining the campaign website, flying political candidates to various functions, and other assigned duties.

Civic Involvement

Jeff currently serves on the Stearns County Board of Adjustment. In addition, Jeff is an active member of the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Chamber's Governmental Affairs Committee and previously served on the Chamber Awards Banquet Committee. Jeff is also an active member of Joy Christian Center (JCC) in St. Cloud and he and his wife Julie are backup volunteers in the infants room during church service. Jeff volunteered to help out the church for the community wide Fall Fun Fest and the recent JCC Eggstravaganza which brought in over 3,000 people from the St. Cloud area. He became a charter member of the St. Cloud Elks and is a member of the NRA. He is also a member of the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, Minnesota Business Aviation Association and the National Business Aviation Association.

Prior to his arrival back home in Minnesota, Jeff served on the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Family Council. He was the Secretary of the University Aviation Association for the United States.

Personal Interests

Jeff's personal interests include swimming, boating, snow skiing, target shooting, hunting, fishing, racquetball, and flying airplanes although his favorite activity is simply spending time with his family. Jeff recently took up rollerblading and snowboarding.