ORONO – U.S. Navy Adm. Gregory G. Johnson, retired commander in chief of Allied Forces, Southern Europe, and commander of U.S. Forces, Europe, will be at the University of Maine on Nov. 27 for a luncheon lecture on “Lessons of Bosnia and Other Conflicts.”

Johnson will speak noon-1:15 p.m. in the McIntire Room of Buchanan Alumni House. His appearance is sponsored by the William S. Cohen Center for International Policy and Commerce. The event is free and open to those with a reservation. To make reservations call the Cohen Center at 581-1988 or e-mail Peter Fandel at peter.fandel@umit.maine.edu.

Johnson is a native of the northern Maine community of Westmanland and an alumnus of the University of Maine, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in the late 1960s. He became a commissioned officer after graduating from Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1969 and was designated a naval aviator in 1970.

His initial sea duty assignments included flying an A-7E Corsair II and deploying with the USS Independence. Subsequent squadron and sea duty assignments included serving aboard the USS Nimitz, serving as executive officer and commanding officer of the Marine Air Group Twelve and USS Forrestal, as deputy commander of the Carrier Air Wing Six, USS Forrestal, and commander of Carrier Air Wing Three on the USS Eisenhower.

Shore duty assignments have included serving with the Joint Chiefs of Staff as head of the European Command and Central Command Branch of the Joint Operations Division.

Admiral Johnson was selected for flag rank in February 1995.

In 1996, he served as commander of Carrier Group Eight on the USS Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group. As commander, he served as the principal adviser to type commanders in all matters concerning the operational support and employment of assigned forces.

In 1999, he became senior military assistant to Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen.