{{Short description|American businessman and public official}} {{Use American English|date=November 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Fitz Johnson | caption = Johnson in 2023 | office = Member of the Georgia Public Service Commission<br>from the 3rd district | governor = Brian Kemp | term_start = August 26, 2021 | term_end = January 1, 2026 | predecessor = Chuck Eaton | successor = Peter Hubbard | birth_name = Terrell Fitz Johnson | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|10|9}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | spouse = Suzann Wilcox | children = 4 | education = The Citadel (BS)<br>Troy State University (MS)<br>University of Kentucky (JD) | allegiance = {{flag|United States}} | branch = {{army|United States}} | service_years = 1981–2002 | rank = Major | unit = U.S. Army Reserve }} {{MedalTableTop|name=|image=|imagesize=|alt=|caption=}} {{MedalSport|Collegiate Wrestling}} {{MedalCountry|the Citadel Bulldogs}} {{MedalCompetition|SoCon Championships}} {{MedalGold|1982 Lexington|134 lb}} {{MedalBottom}} '''Terrell Fitz Johnson''' (October 9, 1963)<ref>https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/501050/Terrell_Fitz_Johnson.html</ref> is an American soldier, businessman, and public official from Georgia. Appointed by Governor Brian Kemp in July 2021, he became the second African American and first black Republican to serve on the Georgia Public Service Commission. He is a former owner of the Atlanta Beat soccer club.

== Early life and education == Johnson was born on October 9, 1963. He attended The Citadel on a wrestling scholarship, and he won the NCAA's Southern Conference title as a freshman in 1982. A knee injury during his sophomore year ended Johnson's wrestling career. He was inducted into the Georgia Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2021.<ref name="T. Fitz Johnson">{{Cite web |title=T. Fitz Johnson |url=https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame/bio/14878 |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=nwhof.org}}</ref>

Johnson received his BS in education from The Citadel in 1985, his MS in education from Troy University in 1991, and his JD from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1998.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=T. Fitz Johnson |url=https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/bio/14878 |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=National Wrestling Hall of Fame}}</ref>

== Military and business careers == Johnson enlisted in the United States Army in 1981, became a commissioned officer in 1985, and served on active duty from 1985 to 1995 and in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1995 to 2002. He retired at the rank of major. From 1998 to 2008, Johnson worked as owner and operator of Eagle Group International, a $175 million privately held company that sold logistics, information technology, training, and healthcare services to the U.S. Defense Department and was later acquired by Lockheed Martin.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lockheed Martin Completes Acquisition of Eagle Group International, LLC |url=https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2008-05-23-Lockheed-Martin-Completes-Acquisition-of-Eagle-Group-International-LLC}}</ref> He later became CEO and owner of ASID Group International.<ref name=":0" /> In 2024, Johnson, along with his wife Suzanne Wilcox and business partners Brennen and Emily Matthews, opened Drafty Dane Park & Pint, an off-leash dog park and bar, in Marietta, Georgia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marietta is Getting Its Own Dog Park & Bar With the Upcoming Opening of The Drafty Dane |url=https://www.tonetoatl.com/2024/08/The-Drafty-Dane-Dog-Park-Bar-Opening-Marietta-Cobb-County.html}}</ref>

== Political career == Johnson ran unsuccessfully for the Cobb County Commission in 2020 and state school superintendent in 2014. On July 21, 2021, Governor Brian Kemp appointed him to the Georgia Public Service Commission,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2021 |title=Gov. Kemp Appoints Fitz Johnson to Public Service Commission |url=https://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2021-07-21/gov-kemp-appoints-fitz-johnson-public-service-commission |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721190126/https://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2021-07-21/gov-kemp-appoints-fitz-johnson-public-service-commission |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 21, 2021 |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=Governor Brian P. Kemp Office of the Governor |language=en}}</ref> filling the unexpired term of District 3 Commissioner Chuck Eaton, who had resigned to become a Georgia Superior Courts judge. Sworn in on August 26, 2021, Johnson became the second African American, and the first African-American Republican, to serve as a Georgia public-service commissioner.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bluestein |first=Greg |date=July 21, 2021 |title=Kemp names Fitz Johnson to vacant PSC position |url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/kemp-names-fitz-johnson-to-vacant-psc-position/NI7VLEIEN5FARBDSDIYSTVPMKY/ |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |language=English}}</ref> He chaired the commission's telecommunications committee until September 2023, and he subsequently chaired the energy committee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fitz Johnson |url=https://psc.ga.gov/about-the-psc/commissioners/fitz-johnson/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=psc.ga.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gov. Kemp Appoints Fitz Johnson to Public Service Commission |url=https://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2021-07-21/gov-kemp-appoints-fitz-johnson-public-service-commission |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Governor Brian P. Kemp Office of the Governor |language=en}}</ref> In 2023, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners appointed him chair of the Task Force on Evolving Gas Infrastructure Planning.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commissioner Fitz Johnson |url=https://psc.ga.gov/about-the-psc/commissioners/fitz-johnson/ |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=State of Georgia Public Service Commission}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 10, 2023 |title=Georgia Commissioner Fitz Johnson to Lead New NARUC Natural Gas Resource Planning Task Force |url=https://www.naruc.org/about-naruc/press-releases/georgia-commissioner-fitz-johnson-to-lead-new-naruc-natural-gas-resource-planning-task-force/ |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=NARUC |language=en}}</ref>

Johnson ran for a full term on the commission, winning the Republican primary in May 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Associated Press |date=July 9, 2022 |title=Jordan outraises incumbent Carr in Ga. attorney general race |url=https://wgxa.tv/news/state-news/jordan-outraises-incumbent-carr-in-ga-attorney-general-race# |access-date=November 20, 2023 |website=WGXA News}}</ref> However, in August 2022, Judge Steven D. Grimberg of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia ruled in favor of black voters that had sued in 2020 to strike down at-large elections used to elect Public Service Commissioners, alleging that the system diluted the black vote and thus violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The State of Georgia appealed the ruling, and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Grimberg's decision. The plaintiffs then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which reversed the reversal and returned the case to the circuit court for review. As of November 2, 2023, the circuit court has not rendered a decision. Until an election is held, Johnson and fellow commissioner Tim Echols will remain in office, even though Johnson's term expired on December 31, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kann |first=Drew |date=November 2, 2023 |title=Groups want Vogtle cost hearings halted until Georgia PSC elections are held |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/groups-want-vogtle-cost-hearings-halted-until-psc-elections-are-held/WBNJ5B6KGJEWPE6SAQFT66UOGI/ |access-date=November 20, 2023 |website=The Atlanta-Journal Constitution}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Landers |first=Mary |date=2023-11-03 |title=Court decision expected soon on Georgia Public Service Commission election |url=https://www.wabe.org/court-decision-expected-soon-on-psc-election/ |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=WABE (FM) |language=en-US}}</ref>

Johnson has served on the boards of the State Charter Schools Commission, Wellstar Health System, Life University, the Kennesaw State University Foundation, the Cumberland Counseling Center, and the Women's Professional Soccer League.<ref name=":1" /> He is a former owner of the Atlanta Beat (WPS) professional soccer team from 2008 to 2011 and has supported fundraising and construction of Kennesaw State University's Fifth Third Stadium.<ref name=":0" />

In a 2025 special election, Johnson was defeated by Democrat Peter Hubbard.

== Personal life == Johnson is married to Suzann Wilcox and has four children and six grandchildren.<ref name=":1" />

In 2021, Johnson was honored with the Outstanding American award by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum.<ref name="T. Fitz Johnson"/>

== References == {{reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Chuck Eaton}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the Georgia Public Service Commission<br>from the 3rd district|years=2021–2026}} {{s-aft|after=Peter Hubbard}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Fitz}} Category:1963 births Category:20th-century African-American businesspeople Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:20th-century United States Army personnel Category:21st-century African-American businesspeople Category:21st-century American businesspeople Category:21st-century Georgia (U.S. state) politicians Category:21st-century United States Army personnel Category:African-American United States Army personnel Category:Atlanta Beat (WPS) Category:Black conservatism in the United States Category:Businesspeople from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Georgia (U.S. state) Republicans Category:Georgia Public Service Commission Category:Living people Category:The Citadel alumni Category:The Citadel Bulldogs wrestlers Category:Troy University alumni Category:United States Army officers Category:University of Kentucky Rosenberg College of Law alumni