RC Johnson: All-American Scholar and Entrepreneur
November 20, 2007 | 
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Raoul Johnson, or RC as he wants to be called, is a special individual. The Minnesota native is a stellar athlete juggling three demanding careers: training for a chance to represent the US in wrestling in the Olympics, pursuing a Ph.D. at UCCS, and being an entrepreneur. RC grew up in Minnesota and moved to Colorado Springs from Michigan where he went to college. RC trains at the USOC in Greco-Roman style wrestling and travels the world taking part in contests, and still finds the time to pursue a Ph.D. program in the demanding field of Computer Science at UCCS. As amazing as he is, he is also the CIO/CTO at a start-up company in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs Record+ interviewed RC on the UCCS campus.
CSR: How did you get started in wrestling?
RCJ: I was actually on the football team in my high school in Plymouth, Minnesota, when a teammate suggested that I try out for the wrestling team. That’s how I got started in wrestling.
CSR: What were some of your early successes?
RCJ: I went to State two times in high school. In the senior year, I was I became an All-American (Top 8 in the country) at the Junior level. I was noticed by the coach at Northern Michigan University. I went to NMU on scholarship. I had some great successes. I went to University Nationals twice in four years. I won the Fila-Junior once during college. I was the fourth at University Worlds in 2004, and the sixth in 2006.
CSR: How did you get selected to come to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs?
RCJ: The wrestling program at NMU is a feeder program. I was honored to be selected to come and train at the Olympic Training Center.
CSR: Tell us about some big successes lately.
RCJ: I have placed third in the World Team trials during the past two years. It puts me on the US National Team.
CSR: You spend a lot of time training and traveling. How did you get involved in Computer Science? How do you keep yourself balanced?
RCJ: When I was an undergraduate at NMU, I made a decision to focus on two things in life: wrestling and school. Everything else is secondary in my life. In a week, I train about 20 hours. I spend about 15 hours doing school work. I also work 20 hours a week in a professor’s lab. I am also the CIO/CTO of a local start-up. My life is busy and full, as you can see.
CSR: Tell me about your company.
RCJ: It is called TC-Logiq. We do background screening for volunteer organizations. The Web site for the company is called tclogiq.com. I became the Chief Information Office/Chief Technology Officer this past summer. I work as many hours as I get after all my other obligations. My responsibilities are to keep the technology side of the company functioning smoothly.
CSR: What is your future in wrestling?
RCJ: I really want to make to the Olympics and win a medal. I will know in June of 2008 if I am going to the Beijing Olympics. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
CSR: What is your future in academics?
RCJ: I have passed the qualifying exams, the big initial hurdles in a Ph.D. program. I am still taking classes because I came into the Ph.D. program straight after my Bachelor’s, without doing a Masters on the way. I am expecting to earn my Ph.D. in three years from now.
CSR: What are your career plans?
RCJ: I am hoping TC-Logiq will become a big success and my career will grow with it. I will want to be involved in advanced research in computer vision.
CSR:We wish you all the best!
RCJ: Thanks!
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