31-year Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Veteran named Lt. Colonel

Johnny Johnson becomes the new assistant director of the Division

SOCIAL CIRCLE, GA – This past week, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division’s northeast Georgia Region supervisor, Captain Johnny Johnson, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and will join the Command Staff at the Division’s Headquarters in Social Circle. He steps into the vacancy created when Lt. Col. Jeff Weaver retired a few weeks ago. Johnson’s new role as Lt. Colonel was effective on Friday, May 23^rd.

“Lt. Col. Johnson understands the Division from the lowest level to the highest level and his many years of experience with DNR Law Enforcement will be a great asset to the entire Division,” said DNR Law Enforcement Director Colonel Thomas Barnard. “He has had great success leading two of our Regions and I’m looking forward to his continued success at the statewide level.”

Johnson has been with DNR Law Enforcement for 31 years, starting his career in 1988 assigned to Dodge County in the Cordele District. He transferred to Region II in northeast Georgia, where he served until promoting to Captain and region supervisor of Region I in northwest Georgia. Three years later, he transferred back to Region II, managing 19 counties in northeast Georgia and supervising all of DNR Law Enforcement’s operations at Lake Sidney Lanier, one of the busiest lakes in the nation.

During his career, he served as a Field Sergeant, Administrative Sergeant and Captain. Johnson implemented the DNR LED K-9 program, becoming the Division’s first K-9 handler in 1999, and began the DNR K-9 Training Academy in 2000. He also created and implemented the man-tracking curriculum for the Georgia Game Warden Academy and was responsible for starting the Game Warden Advisory Council under Colonel Black.

Johnson’s hard work and dedication has been evident to his peers and the Division Command Staff as well. He was the State Supervisor of the Year for the Division in 2001 and State Investigative Ranger of the Year in 1995.

Lt. Col. Johnson’s wife, Angie Johnson, is employed by the GA DNR State Parks & Historic Sites Division and they have two children. He is a Whitfield County native and currently resides in Lumpkin County.