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NORTH ATTLEBORO - A 1983 graduate of North Attleboro High School has assumed command of the 722nd Air Control Squadron based in North Bay, Ontario.

"No mission is more important than defending out homeland and our way of life," Air Force Lt. Col. David Johnson said at the change-of-command ceremony.

Johnson grew up a "Navy brat," moving from base to base, and always looked up to his father, who was in the Navy for 20 years, said his mother, Patricia Johnson. She said she's proud of her son, and not for the first time.

"He did all those things you'd be proud of," she said.

All those things include serving in the Air Force for 19 years, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout and putting himself through college with a job at a local Kmart. He graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston in 1987 and joined the Air Force in 1989.

He met his wife of 11 years, Darlene, while he was stationed in Oklahoma City. They have two children, a 10-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son.

"I'm proud of him being the man he is, that he grew up to be, and the fact that he has dedicated his life to protecting us," Patricia Johnson said.

She said he visited her in North Attleboro in February, and she babysat the kids.