About the Institute

Taylor Johnston

Taylor Johnston is Chief Operating Officer for the Institute of Applied Engineering at the University of South Florida. He leads a multi-disciplinary team of engineers, program managers, information technology experts, and business development professionals solving complex problems for the Department of Defense, US Government Agencies, and various businesses. The Institute of Applied Engineering is unique in design, leveraging internal engineering personnel, program management, financial, and federal acquisition regulation contract expertise to deliver results across the spectrum of need and is currently working several multimillion dollar contract vehicles with the DoD. Its core competencies are Integrated Systems, Software Systems, Intelligent Systems, Space Systems, Mechanical Design, Rapid Prototyping and Talent Development. The IAE also leverages both USF professorial talent and a consortium of 30+ universities and small businesses across the nation to address customer’s needs.

Taylor, a native of Barrington, IL, entered the Air Force in 2002 as a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He attended undergraduate pilot training at Whiting NAS, Florida and Vance AFB, Oklahoma and earned his wings in 2004. During his career, Taylor instructed on the C-21 Learjet, the C-130 Hercules, and the KC-135 Stratotanker and logged more than 3,600 hours. He held numerous positions at the squadron, group, wing, and Headquarters United States Air Force branch chief level and finished out his career in the United Stated Air Force as the Chief of Innovation, 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill AFB FL.

He and his wife Aleksandra have two boys and reside in Tampa FL.