Macon native tapped to oversee $1.4 trillion student loan program

A Macon native could soon lead the $1.4 trillion federal student loan program.

A. Wayne Johnson has been nominated by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos as chief operating officer for Federal Student Aid, the largest provider of higher education student loans in the nation.

DeVos said she plans to appoint Johnson to the position because of his experience with technology, business background and research on student loan debt, according to a release.

Along with the $1.4 trillion in existing loans, Federal Student Aid also puts out another $120 billion in loans annually.

“Wayne is the right person to modernize FSA for the 21st century,” DeVos said in a statement. “He actually wrote the book on student loan debt and will bring a unique combination of CEO-level operating skills and an in-depth understanding of the needs and issues associated with student loan borrowers and their families."

Johnson, who declined to comment on the nomination, is a 1970 graduate of Lanier High School. He’s also received degrees from Emory University and two from Mercer University, the most recent being a doctorate in educational leadership with an emphasis on higher education.

Johnson’s career has spanned the business and financial services industries for four decades. He’s been an Army lieutenant, a business owner, a financial consultant and an executive for Visa and other companies.

Currently, Johnson is a co-owner of Middle Georgia independent living communities that include The Cottages on Wesleyan and The Gables at Wolf Creek in Macon. He’s launched a credit and debit card security app through his technology start-up, First Performance Global, which is part of Georgia Tech's Advanced Technology Development Center.

Johnson also served as president of a Macon-based biodiesel business that developed the country's first diesel additive that’s not petroleum-based. Johnson has also served as president of a student loan financial corporation and was a finalist earlier this year for the superintendent’s job in the Hamilton County Department of Education in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Randy Griffin, one of Johnson’s lifelong friends and a current business partner, said for years he’s seen Johnson exemplify the traits that would lead to his rise in the financial world. The two first met while they were in the fifth grade at Stephens Elementary School.

“He is one top experts in the payment services industry in the world,” said Griffin, regional president of One South Bank. “He has worked in South America, in Brazil and Argentina. He has worked in South Africa, in Europe. His businesses have reached over into Japan. He’s been the CEO of various financial service businesses that have literally developed business around the world — and he’s from Macon, Georgia.”

Soon after they became friends, Johnson’s father died, and Johnson found ways to help support the family, Griffin said.

The two also were Boy Scouts together and later became co-owners of Double Eagle, a real estate development company specializing in independent-living communities.

“When I saw what happened with his family and the responsibility he took there and his determination to become an Eagle Scout — early on was when I saw this guy with great determination,” Griffin said. “When he sees something he wants to accomplish, he’ll go after it.”

Penny Elkins, senior vice president for enrollment management at Mercer, worked with Johnson while he was getting his doctorate at Mercer.

“It’s a critical role, and we’re really pleased that a Mercer grad will oversee a very importation position for the nation,” Elkins said. “Wayne is great. We’ve worked with him closely over the last few years. What I do know is he is highly motivated and intelligent and passionate about this topic. I know he’s going to make every effort to really ensure that higher education is obtainable for students across the nation.”

At Mercer, the school walks prospective students and their families through every step of the financial aid process. Even after a student enrolls at Mercer, there are yearly updates to let students know how any loan will affect them long term, Elkins said.

“The last thing we want to do at Mercer is enroll one of theses wonderful freshmen and next year lose them because they can’t afford it.”

This story was originally published June 23, 2017 at 5:54 PM with the headline "Macon native tapped to oversee $1.4 trillion student loan program."