APS names Walker new athletic director

Alamogordo Public Schools named Dr. Johnnie Walker the new Director of Athletics following Jerrett Perry's promotion to APS Superintendent last fall.

Walker began his administrative career at Alamogordo Public Schools (APS) as an interim assistant principal at Alamogordo High School before becoming the principal of Academy del Sol High School.

“Academy del Sol is the jewel of the Tularosa Basin where success is not suggested, but expected. It is a place of learners today and leaders tomorrow,” Walker said.

During the transition, he completed his doctoral studies with an Ed.D in Organizational Development.

An athletic history

Walker grew up on Valencia Drive on Holloman Air Force Base where he discovered his passion for sports.

He played football in the street with friends who called themselves the Valencia Knights, and participated in track and field and was also a first chair in the All-City Band. 

Walker's father is a Vietnam veteran who served 24 years in the U.S. Air Force, and toured as a singer performing around the world. Walker's mother served as a civil service educator at HAFB and as an Accreditation Specialist for New Mexico State University (NMSU).

Walker's parents recently celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary.

In his high school athletic endeavors, he represented Alamogordo as an All-American Honorable Mention candidate. He was also All-State, All-District, and participated in the North-South All Star game.

He accepted a full scholarship to New Mexico Highlands University.

After a season, the former Highland Cowboy transferred to NMSU as a philosophy major to pursue his dream to play in the NFL.

He soon realized that his size would be his nemesis.

At the Division I level, his talent and speed were common place and the success he experienced in high school became humbling at the collegiate level.

At NMSU he was a founding fraternity member of the Alpha Beta Pi chapter of Phi Beta Sigma. In 2001, Walker graduated from NMSU with a bachelor's of art in Philosophy.

Following graduation, Walker joined the United States Army, proudly serving at White Sands Missile Range.

After his military service ended, Walker then began work at Alamogordo Public Schools as a Special Education Instructor at Alamogordo High School and Holloman Middle School.

He returned to college to complete a master’s degree in Education Administration and interned with the APS Athletics Department under Lawrence Johnson while coaching football and track.

Walker has been married for 19 years to Tiffany (Phillips) Walker, an English Language Arts instructor at Mountain View Middle School. The couple has three daughters.

In 2008, he established New Covenant Church in Alamogordo.

Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on twitter at @nicmaxreporter