Lt. Eric Johnson is taking over as commanding officer of the US Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Berry, replacing Lt. Cmdr. Kenneth Franklin, who is heading to Boise, Idaho to pursue graduate studies in human performance technology. The command change took place last week at Coast Guard Base Honolulu.
Johnson previously served as the commanding officer of Coast Guard Cutter Wrangell at Patrol Force Southwest Asia in Bahrain.
The New Jersey native graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in naval architecture and marine engineering. His tours include Coast Guard Cutter Resolute and Coast Guard Cutter Edisto. He was also a nautical science instructor and deputy branch chief at the US Coast Guard Academy. Johnson earned his master’s degree in defense and strategic studies from the Naval War College.
The Oliver Berry is the first Fast Response Cutter based in the Coast Guard 14th Coast Guard District, which includes Hawaii, Guam and American Samoa.