Born in Hollywood, CA. Pioneer in motion control technology for model shop and miniature photography. While working for the now defunct Apogee, the company that assisted George Lucas with STAR WARS (1977), a wire wrapper at the time, Johnson had his first exposure to a motion control system. After examining it, he found that he could make it workable with some major corrections. So, late one night he stayed in the studio after everyone had left and tested his theory. When it worked, Apogee promoted him and motion control was born. Later when Apogee went bankrupt, Johnson and his partner Alvah Miller began their own company Lynx Robotics, which supplies motion control systems to countries around the world. Johnson's visual effects credits include LIFEFORCE (1985, special visual effects crew), SPACEBALLS (1987, motion control programmer: Apogee, Inc.), GHOST DAD (1990, software development: Apogee, Inc.), BROKEN ARROW (1996, miniatures: motion control programmer), THE X FILES (1998, motion control technologist: model shop & miniature photography) and STAR TREK: INSURRECTION (1998, physical production technologist).  Scientific and Engineering Award (Plaque) 1988: For their contributions and the collective advancements they have brought to the motion picture industry in the field of motion control technology. [w. Bill Tondreau of Tondreau Systems, and Alvah J. Miller (also of Lynx Robotics), Peter A. Regla (ELICON), Dan Slater, Bud Elam & Joe Parker & Bill Bryan (Interactive Motion Control) and Jerry Jeffress, Ray Feeney, Bill Holland & Kris Brown]  Scientific and Engineering Award (Plaque) 2000: For the electronic and software design of the Lynx C-50 Camera Motor System. (with Alvah J. Miller, also of Lynx Robotics)  Technical Achievement Award (Certificate) 2000: For the conception, design and development of data capture systems that enable superior accuracy, efficiency and economy in the creation of composite imagery. [w. Bill Tondreau of Kuper Systems, and Alvah J. Miller (also of Lynx Robotics), and David Stump of Visual Effects Rental Services] 3 Scientific/Technical Awards