LATHAM, N.Y. – Kevin L. Johnston, an Amherst native and Army veteran of the Iraq War, has been promoted to colonel in the Army. Johnston, who enlisted in the Army as an infantryman in 1990 and became a field artillery officer in 1992, is the son of Kemp and Jackie Johnston, of Amherst. He is a graduate of The Derryfield School in Manchester. Johnston is currently assigned as the senior Army adviser to the New York Army National Guard in Latham, N.Y. Along with serving in Iraq, Johnston as served with American forces in Panama, Egypt, Haiti, Kosovo, Albania and Germany.

He served as an exchange instructor at the British Defense Academy in Shrivenham, England, which provides advanced military education for British officers and Ministry of Defense officials. In that role, he served on the academy directing staff, where he was responsible for facilitating discussion and leading exercises from Strategic Policy and Global Affairs to Joint Operations and Campaign Planning/Execution. He also taught U.S. Military Policy classes to British officers and warrant officers and conducted counterinsurgency training based on the experience he accrued serving with the 1st Infantry Division in Baghdad.

Johnston has commanded at the company and battalion level, and served in staff positions from the battalion to division level. He has also served as a brigade executive officer. As senior Army adviser for the New York Army National Guard, Johnston’s role is to provide military advice and assistance to Army Guard commanders concerning organization, operations, training and readiness. He attended Plymouth State University and graduated from the University of Oklahoma. He holds a master’s degree in business managment from Webster University and is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College.

Johnston and his wife, Christy, reside in Loudonville, N.Y. He has three stepchildren and two children. When he is not working, Johnston is an avid runner. He has run six full and 15 half marathons. He is also a baseball fan who has seen professional baseball games in 14 stadiums.