Lonnie Johnson

Lonnie George Johnson (b. October 6, 1949) is an American inventor, aerospace engineer, and entrepreneur. Born in Mobile, Alabama, during segregation, he nurtured his curiosity by dismantling toys and building gadgets. In high school, his homemade air-powered robot 'Linex' won first prize in a local science fair — a poignant milestone for the only Black participant. Johnson earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (1973) and an M.S. in Nuclear Engineering (1975) from Tuskegee University. He began his career at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and later joined the U.S. Air Force, leading nuclear power safety programs and contributing to the B-2 stealth bomber. In 1979, he moved to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, working on the Galileo mission; he returned to the Air Force in 1982 and then back to JPL in 1987, contributing to the Mars Observer and Cassini–Huygens missions. In 1989, while developing an energy-efficient heat pump, Johnson accidentally created the prototype for what became the Super Soaker — a high-powered, pressurized water gun fashioned from PVC pipes and a soda bottle. Larami Corporation licensed it, and after rebranding from 'Power Drencher' to 'Super Soaker' in 1991, it soared to $200 million in sales its first year. With over 200 million units sold and more than $1 billion in cumulative revenue, the toy earned induction into the National Toy Hall of Fame (2015) and the U.S. National Inventors Hall of Fame (2022). Johnson holds over 250 patents spanning toys, energy systems, and battery technologies. He founded Johnson Research & Development Co. and oversees ventures such as Johnson Battery Technologies and JTEC Energy, innovating in ceramic batteries and thermoelectric converters designed to efficiently turn heat into clean electricity. Married to Linda Moore, Johnson is a father of four residing in Atlanta. His journey—from segregated Alabama, through Air Force and NASA service, to creating a billion-dollar toy and green‑energy breakthroughs—exemplifies creativity, resilience, and impact.