Distinguished Engineer
Hometown: Brookings
Civil Engineering,
Loys A. Johnson earned an M.S. degree in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin after graduating from South Dakota State College. He later attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. After college he spent nine years in various engineering jobs including work with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in Denver and the Tennessee Valley Authority in Knoxville. In 1940, he began a 20-year career as a naval officer in the Civil Engineer Corps, which included planning, designing and construction of naval shore facilities in the United States and abroad. Johnson had several universal assignments including assistant naval attaché, London Embassy, special naval observer, United Kingdom and staff civil engineer for Pacific Naval Air bases. Prior to retirement, he attained the rank of commander.