MANCHESTER, N.H., June 21, 2018 – FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an international K-12 not-for-profit organization that inspires young people’s interest and participation in science and technology, today announced the election of two new members to the FIRST Board of Directors. With programs that serve students ages 6 to 18, FIRST has exposed millions of young people around the globe to opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The new board members, both valued supporters of FIRST, include: Karen Horting, executive director and CEO, Society of Women Engineers (SWE); and Lonnie Johnson, president and founder, Johnson Research and Development Corporation.

In this segment from “The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation” you’ll learn more about Lonnie Johnson, inventor of the Super Soaker.

As an inventor holding over 100 U.S. patents – including the Super Soaker water gun, Nerf dart guns, clean energy technologies and many more – I know firsthand the vital role that patents play in incentivizing and protecting innovation.

High school students applaud on this January assembly of Mobile’s Alabama School of Math and Science. It is somewhat odd. Typically, technology innovators do not receive such accolades. But others did not invent the Super Soaker water gun. Lonnie G. Johnson did.