 In May 1955 he reported to Norfolk, Virginia as the Prospective Commanding Officer, (PCO) of the Navy's first "supercarrier", under construction.Therefore, Johnson became the first commanding officer of the 60,000-ton attack aircraft carrier on her commissioning day, October 1, 1955, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia.Three months later, on January 1, 1956, he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral.