Lightning Talks - Active Duty
Biographies
Colonel Kimberly A. Johnson
Assistant Chief of Staff G-1, Marine Forces Command
Colonel Johnson hails from Carlsbad, California. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Tulane University in 1997.
After graduating from the Basic School, Delta-97, she served as the adjutant of the 1st Radio Battalion. She then served as Aide-de-Camp to Commanding General, Marine Corps Bases Hawaii from June 2000 to September 2001. Colonel Johnson reported as the adjutant of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, during which she deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I and Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
In May 2005, Colonel Johnson was selected as Aide-de-Camp to Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting Command. Further challenging her teaching and leadership skills, Colonel Johnson was an instructor and platoon commander at Officer Candidates’ School during the summer of 2006. After a brief tour in the Separation and Retirement Branch, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, she was selected to serve as Deputy Director of Protocol for the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Selected for the Foreign Area Officer Program in 2007, Colonel Johnson reported to the Naval Postgraduate School in 2008. Earning a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs, East Asian Studies after completing the Special Projects Course in Mandarin at the Defense Language Institute, Colonel Johnson spent a year in Beijing, China, for the In-Country Training phase.
Returning to administration, Colonel Johnson was the adjutant for Wounded Warrior Battalion (West). From July to December 2014, she served as the Assistant Chief of Staff G-1, U.S. Marine Forces, Korea. She was selected for command and served as the Inspector-Instructor 4th Law Enforcement Battalion from December 2014 to June 2017. Colonel Johnson served as the Coordination, Liaison, Assessment, and Training Section Pacific Command Officer-in-Charge at Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group from July 2017 to July 2019. She assumed the duties as the Assistant Chief of Staff G-1, Marine Forces Command, in July 2019.
Colonel Johnson’s studies throughout her Marine Corps career include Legal Officers’ Course, Amphibious Warfare School Non-Resident, Equal Opportunity Representatives’ Course, Command and Staff College Non-Resident, Defense Language Institute (Mandarin), Manpower Officer Course, Air War College Non-Resident, and earned a Master of Business Administration in 2009 and a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs in 2010.
Her personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jason M. Pierce
Senior Supply Chain Management Officer, Headquarters Marine Corps, Installation and Logistics
A resident of New York, Jason Pierce, enlisted in the Marine Corps in December 1996. Upon graduation from MCRD Parris Island and Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, NC, Private Pierce attended Basic Supply School at Camp Johnson, NC. In June 1997, PFC Pierce was assigned to Marine Wing Communication Squadron 18, Okinawa, Japan. In August 1998, PFC Pierce was assigned to Instructor Battalion, The Basic School, Quantico, VA. In March 2001, Corporal Pierce was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, MCAS Miramar, CA, and deployed to Bahrain to support VMGR-234.
In March 2004, Sergeant Pierce was a Recruiter at RSS Warwick, RI. In June 2007, Staff Sergeant Pierce was assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, CA. September 2007, he was posted to HQ Co, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, CA. January 2008, he deployed with Regimental Combat Team 5 to Al Asad, Iraq. February 2009, Staff Sergeant Pierce reported to The Basic School, Quantico, VA. While there, he was promoted to Warrant Officer and attended the Ground Supply Officer Course at Camp Johnson, NC. September 2009, assigned to the SMU, Supply Battalion, CLR-15, 1st MLG, Camp Pendleton, CA. He was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 2. In September 2010, he deployed to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, as Storage OIC.
January 2012, CWO2 Pierce deployed with 1st MLG FWD to Afghanistan, serving as Supply Chain Integration Officer. January 2013, assigned to CLR-15 G-4, Camp Pendleton, CA, as Regimental Supply Officer. In August 2013, CWO2 Pierce was assigned to the 8th Communications Battalion, 2nd MHG, Camp Lejeune, NC, as Supply Operations Officer. Additionally, he was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 3. In January 2016, CWO3 Pierce was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve, G-4, New Orleans, LA, as Director of the Logistics Systems Coordination Office.
He was selected to be the Logistics Officer for the CMC in support of the Marine Leaders of Americas Conference in Mexico City, Mexico. He was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 4. Selected for a Corporate Fellowship at Amazon Headquarters in the Supply Chain Optimization Technology division, Seattle, WA. August 2019, CWO4 Pierce was assigned to Marine Corps Logistics Command, Albany, GA, serving as Deputy Director of the Supply Chain Integration Division. He was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 5. In June 2022, CWO5 transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps, Installation and Logistics, LP, LPS1, Pentagon, Arlington, VA, where he serves as the Senior Supply Chain Management Officer.
CWO5 Pierce graduated from Marine Corps University from Expeditionary Warfare School and Command and Staff College. In addition, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Transportation and Logistics Management from American Military University, a Master of Business Administration from the E.J. Ourso College of Business at Louisiana State University, and a Master of Arts in International Relations from New England College. He is currently a Doctoral Student of Education in Leadership Studies emphasis on Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management at Louisiana State University, Shreveport.
Master Gunnery Sergeant William L. Call, Jr.
Department of Defense Fellow, Congresswoman Sara J. Jacobs, California 51st District
Born in Angeles City, Philippines, Master Gunnery Sergeant William L. Call, Jr. joined the Marine Corps in 1996. He is currently the Department of Defense Fellow for Congresswoman
Sara J. Jacobs (CA-51), serving as a policy advisor on defense, homeland security, foreign policy, and veteran’s issues. Through his work as Marine Corps music conductor and in collaboration with service and foreign counterparts, he shared the Marine Corps story to its public in events with and for partners and allies in North America, Asia, Australia, and Oceania.
Master Gunnery Sergeant Call has served in various roles outside his expertise. As the Senior Enlisted Advisor (SEA) for Marine Corps Intelligence Schools (2019) and the SEA for the Naval School of Music (2015-2019), he advised, assisted, and mentored over 300 staff and instructors of Marine Corps Intelligence Schools and its subordinate Marine Detachments, and over 3,500 resident students annually.
He was assigned to Marine Corps Recruiting Command (2020-2022), where he led the national program that identified, assessed, and recruited musicians to staff the ten Marine Bands. He served in the Marine Corps Communication Directorate, overseeing the integration of Marine Corps bands in the Marine Corps’ overall communication strategy. His last position was in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, overseeing the Research and Engineering Portfolio.
He graduated from several military schools, including the Naval War College Senior Enlisted Academy. He was recognized as the top graduate for attaining the highest grade and receiving the John A. Power Excellence in Communication and the Navy Association Military Heritage awards. He was also the top Marine Corps Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy Advanced course graduate.
He holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the American University in Washington, DC. His coursework focused on U.S. foreign policy, national security, and the global economy and markets. He is a current student at The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management, where he is a candidate for the Master of Strategic Public Relations Degree. His research interests are focused on the space where national security, public diplomacy, and national identity converge.
His personal decorations include a Joint Service Commendation Medal, four Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and three Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medals. He has completed two 100-mile races and has vacationed in over forty countries.