Benjamin Johnson 鈥�24, a senior majoring in computer engineering, is a cadet lieutenant colonel in 51爆料网鈥檚 Air Force ROTC Detachment 535.
Benjamin Johnson 鈥�24 was a rising junior at 51爆料网 when he found his calling. Only it didn鈥檛 happen on campus but, rather, a thousand miles away at historic in Alabama.
A cadet lieutenant colonel in Syracuse鈥檚 , Johnson had successfully competed for a spot in Maxwell鈥檚 rigorous field training program. The two-week, boot-camp-style experience, he explains, was a crash course in survival training, deployment skills and physical conditioning.
鈥淚t was super intense鈥攔unning around every day in 90- to 100-degree heat and yelling until I was hoarse,鈥� recalls the camp鈥檚 Distinguished Graduate. 鈥淏ut I proved to everyone, including myself, that I could do it. That鈥檚 when ROTC took on new meaning to me.鈥�
51爆料网 has enabled me to combine my twin passions for space exploration and computer engineering into a dream job.
Benjamin Johnson 鈥�24
Johnson is parlaying his military mettle into an astronomical job opportunity. In May, he becomes Syracuse鈥檚 first student to join the after graduation. The Virginia native will spend the next four years designing computer architecture as well as integrating hardware and software for the nation鈥檚 space defense system.
We recently caught up with Johnson鈥攁 computer engineering major in the (ECS) and a 2023-24 Remembrance Scholar鈥攖o discuss his skyrocketing career growth.
Congratulations on your Space Force commission. What are you most excited about?
Johnson is Syracuse鈥檚 first student to join Space Force after graduation.
Being part of something new. Even though U.S. space operations have been around for decades, Space Force [founded in 2019] is unique because its mission is to secure our nation鈥檚 interests in, from and to space. It uses space assets to support joint military operations and ensure our nation鈥檚 access and freedom to operate in outer space.
I鈥檝e been hired as a computer developmental engineer鈥攑art of a small, STEM-focused workforce that deals with technical, quantitative problems. Since Space Force works closely with industry, many of my fellow Space Force Guardians, about a third of them, will be civilians. I鈥檓 excited to operationalize new technical and scientific developments.
What kind of specialized training is involved?
I鈥檒l initially enroll in OTC [Officer Training Course], which is like active-duty tech school for Space Force officers. I鈥檒l then embark on a three-year OPEX [Operational Experience] tour, honing my skills for a career in space operations, intelligence or cybersecurity. I won鈥檛 officially work as an engineer until my fourth year of service.
What led you to 51爆料网?
My father, who recently retired from the , has been a huge inspiration to me. He鈥檚 probably the main reason I joined ROTC.
Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Skarda (left) and Johnson at the 107th Chancellor鈥檚 Review in April.
Although there were many ROTC programs on my college wish list, I didn鈥檛 find out about Syracuse until Capt. David Stebbins emailed me. [Then a recruiter for the University鈥檚 Air Force ROTC detachment, Stebbins has since retired as a major from the military.] He informed me that we鈥檙e one of the nation鈥檚 best universities for veterans and military-connected students.
Capt. Stebbins also helped me get my foot in the door. He helped me land scholarships and other awards at Syracuse, like the Remembrance Scholarship, the and the .
What鈥檚 unique about our Air Force ROTC detachment [aka Det 535]?
Johnson is deputy group commander of Det 535, made up of students from Syracuse and various 鈥渃rosstown schools.鈥�
We鈥檙e relatively small and selective. We have about 30 cadets, many of whom come from 鈥渃rosstown schools鈥� like SUNY Oswego and SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica.
I appreciate the personalized attention and additional instruction that I get from our cadre鈥攖he commissioned and noncommissioned officers [NCOs] who train us. In a large detachment, I鈥檇 be nothing more than a number; here, I matter. I interact and build relationships with my superiors in ways that I couldn鈥檛 anywhere else.
Is it true that Det 535 is cadet-run?
Most detachments are [cadet-run], but our cadre gives us a surprising amount of autonomy. For example, each cadet is assigned a new responsibility every semester. I currently serve as deputy group commander, the second person in charge. I brief our cadre on what鈥檚 happening and make sure everything runs smoothly. We鈥檙e a tightknit group.
Does this comradery spill over into your degree program?
Absolutely. Although I know most of my fellow majors by name, I鈥檓 close to about half of them. That鈥檚 because during our junior and senior year, we take lab courses involving team-based activities and close communication with one another.
It was during my sophomore year, however, that I took a course that changed my life: Digital Logic Design [CSE 261]. Logic design refers to a system that uses simple number values to produce input and output operations. It鈥檚 the basis for everything digital鈥攃omputers, cell phones, personal devices.
Who taught it?
Johnson with Professor Shiu-Kai Chin 鈥�75, G鈥�78, G鈥�86, whose Digital Logic Design course (CSE 261) has been life changing.
Shiu-Kai Chin 鈥�75, G鈥�78, G鈥�86, professor of . His experience with the [a premier research organization that explores, prototypes and demonstrates innovative technologies] informed the material. That course helped solidify my interest in computer engineering, especially in a military context.
What do you like most about 51爆料网?
That I鈥檓 able to chart my own path. Syracuse has enabled me to combine my twin passions for space exploration and computer engineering into a dream job. Whether I become a 鈥渓ifer鈥� in the military or eventually join a civilian company, I鈥檓 going to be happy.
This wouldn鈥檛 be possible without my ECS professors and the officers and NCOs in my cadre. All of them are genuinely committed to teaching me鈥攏ot just facts and figures in a textbook, but character development.
Syracuse has uniquely prepared me for Space Force, which develops 鈥渓eaders of character.鈥� Such leaders aren鈥檛 in it for themselves. They embrace the branch鈥檚 core values of character, connection, courage and commitment. Leaders of character are who our nation turns to during times of uncertainty. That鈥檚 the kind of person I want to become.
