Cherie Johnston, B.S., M.B.A.

Military Liaison & Bereavement Officer, Chief Financial Officer

Cherie holds a Master’s in Business Administration, with an emphasis in International Business, a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration, with dual emphasis in Economics and International Business, both from Chapman University. Cherie studied the Arabic language for many years, making her proficient in reading and writing this challenging non-Romance language. Also, she completed a travel abroad study course in Brazil, meeting with commercial and government leaders in Brasilia and Rio de Jainero. Lastly, Cherie completed a yearlong contract negotiation certification program by the International Association for Contract and Commercial Management, and completed a course in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

Cherie’s recent employment experience has been in the aerospace sector, and previously she worked within the field of International Logistical Operations, exporting goods from the United States. Cherie interned for nearly a year at the U.S. Department of Commerce under a Senior International Trade Specialist earning an International Trade Certification, and for Congressman Ed Royce during his tenure as the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Terrorism, Non-Proliferation and Trade. Cherie is currently the Recording Secretary for the Daughters of the American Revolution Katuktu Chapter, (2015 – 2017), another non-profit, and has been a member since 2013. Additionally, Cherie is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) and the International Association for Contract and Commercial Management, (IACCM).

During high school, Cherie was a four-year junior volunteer at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, donating over 1,000 volunteer hours of service. Additionally, she served as the Secretary and then President of the volunteer board overseeing over 100 active volunteers. Also, Cherie was later recognized for donating over 10 years of volunteer service to La Purisima Catholic Church in Orange, and donated countless more hours as a parent at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana.

Cherie is well versed in the unique challenges U.S. military family members face, and specifically the issues the military children are dealing with due to prolonged separations and deployments. Cherie successfully raised her son alone while his father, over the course of a twenty-year career span which included serving with the Reconnaissance, was repeatedly deployed around the world and into combat situations, to locations such as Somalia and Iraq. As a result of twenty-three years’ experience in the defense arena, Cherie has had the honor to serve for seven years as the volunteer Chief Executive Officer for Military Children’s Charity, Incorporated (M.C.C.).