THIS SATURDAY!

REGISTER NOW

for

A VERY SPECIAL

MEMBERSHIP

MEETING!

SATURDAY JUNE 27^TH– 6PM

EAA 582 HANGAR

TOLEDO EXECUTIVE

AIRPORT

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER

SUSAN

JOHNSON!

LT Susan “Trailer Swift” Johnson was born and raised in Bowling Green, Ohio, the youngest of three children of Paul and Laura Johnson. Susan discovered a love of flying at an EAA Young Eagles Event at the age of 13. Thanks to the kindness of a stranger, Hank Povolny, who not only let Susan sit in his plane he invited her to a Friday night hanging at the hangar. This is where she met Bill David, along with Andy Abreu, Ryan Weaver, Joe Deaton, Mike Whitescarver, and so many others that would play a foundational role in getting her started in aviation.

                Susan started by building and learning about balsa wood gliders with Bill, flying with various members of EAA 582, and absorbing as much aviation knowledge as possible. Susan started learning to fly at 16 years old in the famous Pietenpol Air Camper with Toledo Buzzards Light Sport Aircraft Club Inc (TBLSACI). She soloed the Piet at the age of 16 under the instruction of Bill David, Andy Abreu, and Ryan Weaver. She went on to earn her Private Pilot’s license in the Piper Cherokee rented from Crow Air at age 17.

Following her 2015 graduation from Bowling Green High School, Susan attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, majoring in Aerospace Engineering. While at home on school breaks, she frequented the 582 hangar to visit everyone and fly with Bill. Flying on school breaks was always a welcome reprieve from the arduous long hours of studying at the Naval Academy. Susan commissioned from the Naval Academy in 2019 as an Ensign in the United States Navy. She was awarded the Shoemaker Scholarship to attend Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California, graduating in 2020 with a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering. While attending NPS she flew gliders and towed gliders in the Piper Pawnee out of Hollister, California. 

                In June 2020 Susan moved to Pensacola, Florida to start her career in Naval aviation. After completing Naval Introductory Flight Evaluation program (NIFE), Susan moved to Corpus Christi, TX to complete Primary flight training. This included basic lessons in VFR, IFR, aerobatics and formation flying in the T-6B Texan. Out of primary flight training, Susan was selected to continue her training in jets flying the T-45C Goshawk out of Meridian, Mississippi. Susan learned to fly instruments, formation, drop bombs, land on an aircraft carrier, and fly low level routes and basic fighter maneuvering (dogfighting). In November, 2022 Susan completed flight training earning her Naval Aviator’s Wings of Gold. She then moved to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, to train in her fleet aircraft the EA-18G Growler (the electronic attack variant of the F/A-18 Super Hornet). She completed the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) in April, 2024 and joined her first deployable fleet squadron VAQ-134 “the Garudas” a land based Growler Squadron embedded with the Air Force.

                As a member of VAQ-134,Susan deployed to the Pacific theater from June, 2024 to December 2024. Participating in several international exercises with the Japanese, French, and Koreans. Susan operated out of Misawa, Japan, Okinawa, Japan, and Guam, USA. During 2025 Susan participated in many US exercises to include Checkered Flag, Red Flag, and Gray Flag. Susan then deployed to Osan, Korea from October to December 2025 with VAQ-135 (a sister growler squadron). After earning her Mission Commander and section lead qualification, Susan volunteered to work at the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) in support of the Operation Epic Fury in March, 2026. The CAOC functions as the mission planning nerve center for the air war. Following an exercise in Tucson, Arizona, Susan deployed in May, 2026 to the Middle East to fly missions in support of Operation Epic Fury.

                Susan plans to apply to US Navy Test Pilot School in November, 2026. If she is accepted, she’ll start classes in July, 2027 out of Patuxent River, Maryland.