Allan M. Johnson was born in Muskegon, Michigan, on October 5, 1935. He graduated from Muskegon Senior High in 1935; in 1954 he graduated with an associates degree in engineering from Muskegon Community College. Four years after completing his associates he was drafted into the army and served from 1958 to 1960. After leaving the service Johnson worked at General Telephone and Electronics before continuing his education at Michigan Tech. In 1965 Johnson graduated from Michigan Tech with a bachelor’s degree in geological engineering and continued his education with his master's in geological engineering and his PhD in Geology in 1970. In 1975 Johnson was hired by the university as a research scientist—engineer and assistant professor and worked full time with the Institute of Mineral Research. By 1982 Dr. Johnson had become a research leader and continued his career at Tech until his retirement in 1998.