Mr. Dennis Johnson started in the oilfield working summers in Sundown, Texas, after which he attended Texas A&M University to get a B.S. degree in Petroleum engineering. He is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Summit Petroleum LLC. Since he and Matt Johnson founded Summit in April of 2007, Summit has been active in drilling over 755 wells (237 of which are horizontal), and with cumulative A&D transactions of over $1.3 billion. A recently completed exciting project for Mr. Johnson is the 20 ac Summit Center that was built in northern Midland; it includes office & retail space surrounding a 4-acre park open to the public and designed for families to enjoy.

Prior to founding Summit, Mr. Johnson was President, Chief Operating Officer, and partner in Henry Petroleum Corporation. He started with Henry in 1980 as VP of Drilling and Production. Through his tenure at Henry, Mr. Johnson helped lead the company from being a very small independent to making many significant acquisitions that added value to Henry and its participating partners. These included acquiring the Sho-Vel-Tum CO2 flood in Oklahoma from ARCO, negotiating a joint development agreement with Mobil on the Pegasus Parks Field, and growing Henry to be an active drilling and exploration company with an ownership in 250,000+ acres in the Wolfberry play. The Wolfberry Chronicle, by Greg Berkhouse, was released November 2021 and offers additional history on the company, its owners and employees.

Before Henry, Mr. Johnson was with Exxon Company and Union Texas Petroleum. His varied responsibilities in both companies included Production and Drilling Engineer, District Engineering Manager and Operations Manager.

Mr. Johnson and his wife, Laquita, were married in 1971. Their two children are Matt, and his wife Kristina Johnson of Midland, and Linsey, and her husband Brad Woodard of Branson Missouri. Dennis and Laquita have also been blessed with five grandchildren.

Mr. Johnson is currently active in First Baptist Church (Deacon); First Liberty Institute, Dallas (Advisory Board member); The Texas Public Policy Foundation Life:Powered (Advisory Council); and 21 Wilberforce Global Freedom Center (Advisory Board member). He serves as Founder and CEO of several family-owned companies with ownership of oil interests, ranches, real estate and banks. He also has in the past served on the Boards of Manor Park Inc, United Way, Permian Basin Petroleum Association, the Texas A&M Petroleum Industry Board, Permian Basin Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the SouthWest Oilman’s Tennis Tournament.

Mr. & Mrs. Johnson have enjoyed ministering to others through teaching Sunday School, Engagement Enrichment, Marriage Mentoring and Christian Retreats, both at FBC and at their BSAK Ranch. Awards received include Texas Public Policy Foundation—Sam Houston Award, United Way of Midland—Lifetime Board Member; Permian Basin Petroleum Pioneers—Pioneering Technology Award; and Society of Petroleum Engineers SW North America Region—Service Award.

Summit Petroleum continues to be active under Mr. Johnson, Matt Johnson and its leadership team with 2-3 horizontal rigs running in the Permian Basin with approximately a $250 million capital budget.