John M. "Johnny" Vaught III

2013 University Medallion

John M. "Johnny" Vaught III is vice chairman of the Horry County Higher Education Commission (HCHEC), the organization that was formed in 1959 by the South Carolina General Assembly to develop higher education opportunities for students of Horry County and to oversee the use of county tax millage. Vaught has been a member of the HCHEC since 1997, serving on the Atlantic Center ad hoc committee since 2000 as well as numerous other HCHEC committees.

Vaught served as head of the Department of Electronics Engineering Technology at Horry Georgetown Technical College from 1983 to 2012. Previously he was a professor of electronics engineering technology at Midlands Technical College from 1978 to 1983 and an engineer at the Square D Company from 1973 to 1978. A native of Conway, he earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in electrical engineering, both from the University of South Carolina. He is a consultant on ISO compliance with Major Machine Inc., in Conway.

In civic affairs, Vaught has been active with the Waccamaw Sertoma Club, having served in every office of the organization from board member to president. He has also served as president of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce and the South Carolina Technical Education Association. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Conway. For five years, he was a licensed competition driver in the Sports Car Club of America.