Lonnie Johnson

Lonnie George Johnson is an inventor, aerospace engineer, and entrepreneur whose career encompasses military technology, space exploration, and consumer innovation. Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and a Master of Science in nuclear engineering from Tuskegee University, beginning a professional journey that led him from the U.S. Air Force to NASA laboratories. Trained as a nuclear engineer, Johnson worked as a research engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory before joining the U.S. Air Force, where he led the Space Nuclear Power Safety Section at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory. He was the first flight test engineer assigned by Strategic Air Command to the Stealth Bomber (B-2) at the SAC Test and Evaluation Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base.

At NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Johnson served as a senior systems engineer for the Galileo mission to Jupiter and as a spacecraft engineer for the Mars Observer and Cassini mission to Saturn. He received the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal twice, and multiple awards from NASA. Johnson is widely recognized for inventing the "Super Soaker," a water gun powered by air pressure, which he developed after an experiment at home led to the creation of the toy's precursor.

Johnson established his own engineering firm and licensed the "Super Soaker" to Larami Corp., resulting in more than $200 million in sales within two years and making it the top-selling toy in the United States. Since its debut, hundreds of millions of Super Soakers have been sold, and the water gun was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. Johnson's patents also underpin the Nerf N-Strike product line. He received a $73 million settlement from Hasbro after pursuing additional royalty payments.

Johnson holds more than 100 U.S. patents and is the founder of Johnson Research and Development Co. Inc., an Atlanta-based company that has launched additional ventures, including Johnson Energy Storage and JTEC Energy Inc. His research in clean energy includes the Johnson Thermoelectric Energy Converter, recognized by Popular Mechanics as a world-changing invention. Johnson was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame and was the first African American to be inducted into the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame.

In addition to his inventions, Johnson advocates for STEM education through the Johnson STEM Activity Center, which introduces students from diverse and underserved communities to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. As a keynote speaker, Johnson addresses topics such as innovation, engineering, robotics, technology, space, entrepreneurship, and Black heritage. His life story, from building toys as a child in Mobile, Alabama, to pioneering advancements in clean energy and consumer products, positions him as a leading voice in American innovation and STEM advocacy.