Lonnie J. Johnson was elected State Commander of the Department of Montana, Veterans of Foreign Wars, on June 20, 2026, at the Department Convention in Miles City, Montana. Lonnie previously served as State Commander during the 2024–2025 VFW year, earning the distinction of All-American Department Commander.

Lonnie enlisted in the Montana Army National Guard in 1991 while a junior in high school. He completed Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1991 and Advanced Individual Training there in 1992. In 1994, he entered active duty and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, serving at Camp Giant and Camp Greaves in South Korea. In 1995, he was reassigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, at Fort Lewis, Washington, where his duties included serving as the unit NBC NCO and unit armorer through the Army’s Force XXI program. In 1997, Lonnie was selected for an Active Guard Reserve position in the S4 section at the Infantry Headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. He concluded his Montana National Guard service with the artillery in 1999.

Lonnie joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 2018 after learning that his local Post was preparing to close and liquidate its assets. He is a Gold Legacy Life Member of Butch Leibach Post 4018 in Plentywood, Montana. Since joining the VFW, Lonnie has served in numerous leadership positions at the Post, District and Department levels, including Post Commander, District Commander, District Voice of Democracy Chairman and District Patriot’s Pen Chairman. He has earned the distinctions of All-American Post Commander, All-American District Commander and All-American Department Commander, making him a VFW Triple Crown recipient. He also served as an Assistant Department Inspector during the 2021–2022 VFW year.

Lonnie currently serves as the elected Sheriff of Sheridan County, Montana. He and his wife, Cassie, reside in Plentywood with their two daughters, Madison and Sierra. Lonnie is also a Paid-Up-For-Life member of The American Legion, a member of the Sons of The American Legion and ANAVICUS, a life member of AMVETS, the Korean War Veterans Association and the VFW National Home, and an affiliate member of the Royal Canadian Legion.