LIEUTENANT COLONEL CLAYTON JAY JOHANSON (USAF RETIRED) 

(30 July 1935 - 23 February 2026) 

Clayton Jay Johanson was born on July 30th, 1935, in Topeka, Kansas, the son of Eric George Johanson, Jr. and Audrey Opal Crosson Johanson. He and his family later moved to Colorado and he grew up in the city of Pueblo. After high school, he attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, graduating in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering. Shortly after college, he was commissioned as an officer and pilot in the United States Air Force.

His Air Force career was distinguished. He served two tours in Vietnam and later five years in Europe. During his career, he studied under Admiral Stansfield Turner at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and received many medals and commendations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars. During his time in the USAF, he flew such planes as the A-1 Skyraider, the A-7 Corsair, the OV-10 Bronco, and finally the A-10 Thunderbolt II. During his final assignment, he served as an Air Liaison Officer with the 82nd Airborne Division, based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. 

Following his retirement from the Air Force, after 26 years, he embarked on a second career lasting 34 years, working as an engineering project manager for military communications contracts at the Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute (IITRI) and Alion Science and Technology, both in the Annapolis area. He finally retired at the age of 81 after a lifetime of service. 

He was an avid woodworker in his spare time, dedicating many hours of sweat equity into his church, First Presbyterian, sharing his skills in building and carpentry. In addition, he served his church for two years as a trustee. He also appeared as an extra in the 1974 movie “The Great Gatsby”, which was filmed in Newport, Rhode Island. 

He is survived by his wife, Gwen Johanson of Annapolis, Maryland; his three children, Clayton Charles Johanson of Charlotte, North Carolina, Marion Lee Johanson Kennedy of Severna Park, Maryland, and Eric Ward Johanson of Raleigh, North Carolina; and his three grandsons, William Charles Kennedy, Benjamin James Kennedy and Henry Thomas Kennedy. 

He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery later in 2026. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made in his name to any charity that assists veterans of the US Armed Forces.