military briefs
By Staff
May 17, 2003
Sgt. Troy Lee Massey of the U.S. Army recently was in Friedburg, Germany, and left for Iraq on May 1. Massey is the son of Amelia Polk of Collinsville and George Massey of Meridian.
He is married to Farrah Nichole Massey of Austin, Texas. He has two sisters, Tiffany Massey Gordon of Collinsville and Summer Polk of Meridian, and a brother, Alan Polk of Hattiesburg.
Navy Capt. Arthur J. Johnson Jr. has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral lower half. Johnson is currently serving as chief, East Asia Pacific Division, J-5, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Johnson Sr. of Meridian.
Johnson was born in Burlington, Vt. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in May 1979. He attended flight training in Pensacola and earned his Naval Aviator Wings of Gold in February 1981.
He holds a bachelor's degree in international security affairs from the Naval Academy.
He pursued post-graduate education at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, where his studies focused on U.S. Business and Governmental Relationship and Third World Politics.
Johnson graduated in June 1994 with a master's of public administration.
Johnson was also a member of the millennium class at the National War College, Ft. McNair, Washington. And he was awarded a master's degree in national strategic studies in June 2000.
Johnson served in command and various staff positions in Hawaii; California; Keflavik, Iceland; and the Pentagon. He deployed extensively throughout the Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean and Pacific region.
Afloat, he served as operations administrative assistant, as well as sea and anchor detail officer of the deck onboard the USS Carl Vinson, where he earned third fleet's shiphandler of the year honors for 1990.
Johnson completed command tours at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, where he commanded the Golden Swordsmen of Patrol Squadron 47, and most recently as commander, patrol and reconnaissance Wing 5, NAS Brunswick, Maine.
His awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (five awards) and the Navy Achievement Medal.
