From breaking barriers to building leaders, Elle Johnson’s 20-year military career reflects her commitment to paving the way for others, fostering a culture of mentorship and demonstrating unwavering dedication to service.
Enlisting at just 18, Johnson began her military career in 1992 as a financial specialist. She quickly advanced from private to staff sergeant promotable, guided by mentors and helpful leaders who saw her potential.
A turning point came early in Johnson’s career, when a female general officer recognized her leadership abilities, encouraged her to pursue a commission and ensured she retained a role in the Finance Corps as a commissioned officer.
“She saw something in me I hadn’t even recognized in myself,” Johnson shared. “Her support and guidance changed everything for me.”
Reflecting on her journey, Johnson credits strong leadership for her path.
“I had incredible mentors who believed in me before I believed in myself,” she said. “Good leaders saw my potential and pushed me to grow, even when it meant taking on challenges that I never thought I could handle.”
Inspired by her mentors, Johnson aimed to provide the same encouragement to others.
During her deployment to Iraq, Johnson became the first female finance officer to join an all-male mobile team. She developed financial systems alongside Iraqi leaders during the post-Saddam Hussein regime.
“It was an honor to help establish budgeting systems from the ground up,” she said.
Her role set a standard for women in finance while fostering trust in a challenging environment. However, Johnson’s impact extended beyond finance.
While stationed in Hawaii, she mentored five non-citizen Soldiers, helped them obtain U.S. citizenship and inspired three others to pursue officer commissions.
“Helping them achieve those goals — that’s what I’m proudest of,” she said.
After retiring from active duty at the rank of major, Johnson began her civilian career at the Army Materiel Command, where she honed her budgetary skills and pursued various leadership roles. She joined the Aviation and Missile Command as a supervisory budget analyst in 2020, where she now leads a 10-person team focusing on growth, cross-training, and effectively mentoring the next generation of financial leaders.
“Teach what you know so others can grow — that’s my motto,’” Johnson explained. “It’s about creating a team where everyone is mission-ready and empowered to step up when needed. By sharing knowledge and fostering growth, we build future leaders who are confident, capable and ready to carry the mission forward.”