From left to right: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Maj. Gen. Isaac Johnson, Jr.'s son Joshua, Johnson, and Johnson's sons David, Brice and Zachary. (Photo: TDECU)
Isaac Johnson, Jr., president/CEO for the $4.7 billion TDECU in Lake Jackson, Texas, was granted the title of two-star Major General, U.S. Army Reserve at a ceremony earlier this month, the credit union announced Friday.
One week after the Aug. 6 ceremony, Johnson took command of the US Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) at an official handover ceremony in Fort Bragg, N.C., TDECU said.
The two-star Major General ranking is the third-highest ranking in the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, behind the highest ranking of General and second-highest of Lieutenant General.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Johnson's nomination for the ranking prior to the ceremony, hosted by General (Ret.) Vincent K. Brooks at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston. There, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner presented Johnson with a proclamation declaring that Aug. 6, 2022 would be named Major General Isaac Johnson, Jr. Day., and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) offered Johnson an American flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol. "I wanted to do something that the Senate can't do," Turner said in regard to the proclamation.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Maj. Gen. Isaac Johnson, Jr. (Photo: TDECU) "There is nothing more joyful than to see the men and women who put on the uniform and serve this country at home and abroad. This outstanding leader has led a life that has been enduring to America, his family, community and church," Lee said of Johnson.
Johnson commented, "Even though I'm living my dream, and I'm very grateful to God, I have not stopped dreaming."
Johnson first enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1986 after receiving a promising letter, according to announcement.
"I got a letter in the mail that read, in part, earn enough money to buy a car over the summer. As a 17-year-old I thought this was a great opportunity to get a car before my senior year of high school," Johnson said. "But it grew into a deep love of country, a deep appreciation of those who have come before me, and a love of the military profession of arms."
His 35-plus-year military career has included serving as Brigadier Commanding General 351st Civil Affairs Command; deployments in Kuwait, Afghanistan, Haiti, Djibouti and South Korea; and earning the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and Defense Superior Service Medal. He holds a bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University, MBA from Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., Juris Doctorate from Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School of Law and master of strategic studies from U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Penn.
General (Ret.) Vincent K. Brooks and Maj. Gen. Isaac Johnson, Jr. (Photo: TDECU) "When I think about Isaac Johnson, the one word that keeps coming to my mind is impressive," Brooks stated. "Isaac is balancing a civilian career and a military career at the same time. When you do that, and see great accomplishments in both, it's quite impressive."
According to his LinkedIn page, Johnson first joined TDECU as SVP, chief risk officer and general council in 2014. He then worked for USAA before returning to TDECU in 2020 as SVP, chief administrative, chief legal and chief diversity officer. He was named interim president/CEO in March 2021 and officially took over the CEO role in June 2021.
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Natasha Chilingerian
Natasha Chilingerian has been immersed in the credit union industry for over a decade. She first joined CU Times in 2011 as a freelance writer, and following a two-year hiatus from 2013-2015, during which time she served as a communications specialist for Xceed Financial Credit Union (now Kinecta Federal Credit Union), she re-joined the CU Times team full-time as managing editor. She was promoted to executive editor in 2019. In the earlier days of her career, Chilingerian focused on news and lifestyle journalism, serving as a writer and editor for numerous regional publications in Oregon, Louisiana, South Carolina and the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, she holds experience in marketing copywriting for companies in the finance and technology space. At CU Times, she covers People and Community news, cybersecurity, fintech partnerships, marketing, workplace culture, leadership, DEI, branch strategies, digital banking and more. She currently works remotely and splits her time between Southern California and Portland, Ore.
