Maxwell Orme Johnson

Lt. Col. Maxwell Orme Johnson, U.S. Marine Corps, Ret., of Naples, Fla., passed away Friday, September 8. He was 77 years old.

A graduate of Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany, Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University in 1968, a master’s degree in Middle East Studies from the American University of Beirut in 1974, and a doctorate in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia in 1982.

During his military career, he served in command and operational lead positions at every level, from platoon through regiment. He served in Vietnam during the war as a force reconnaissance and surveillance officer, and then assistant combat intelligence officer. A specialist in Middle Eastern affairs, he served as the Country Director for Persian Gulf Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense during his final tour before retirement from the Marines. He spent the next 25 years in several business development and program management positions in the private sector.

Johnson is survived by his wife Barbara Hutman Williams, whom he married in August 2023. Johnson was proud father to three children: Ann Marie Johnson (husband Greg Melville); Lee Johnson (wife Stefanie Johnson); and Barbara Johnson (husband Timothy Timmer). He was grandfather to Greer and Kai Johnson Melville; Emilie and Charlotte Johnson; and Lily and Seth Timmer, He is also survived by his previous wife, Anna Lee Johnson.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00am, Friday, October 13, 2023, at Quantico National Cemetery, Virginia.