This year marks my 10th year as a member of the 501st Legion. To say that my membership has impacted my geek life is an understatement. Thirty-six approved costumes and more than 400 troops later, the Legion has opened doors I did not know existed. It introduced me to skills I did not know I had, friendships I did not know I needed, and experience a connective chapter between me and my two sons. I have also seen, what happens when passion is channeled into something bigger than ourselves.
Fresh from its recent organization-wide election of global and local leaders, the Legion is reminded that it is not just a club, but a member-driven institution. Watching the process unfold this year reminded me that what began as two Stormtroopers in 1997 has evolved into something far more structured, far more intentional, and enduring.
Grateful for their friendship and leadership, I reached out to founder Albin Johnson and Legion Commanding Officer Justin Sonfield and asked them to look back, assess the present, and imagine what comes next.
THEN
Beyond the armor and the title of founder, Albin Johnson is a storyteller.
He spends his time crafting a fantasy realm called Nemmyrl through Dungeons and Dragons, building lands and histories of his own.
Back in 1997, however, a different kind of world was taking shape.
By the time the Star Wars Special Edition re-releases hit theaters, Johnson wanted to be part of the universe, not just watch it from the audience.
He and his friend Tom Crews found Stormtrooper armor through early internet listservs (for those who remember life before social media). Johnson’s suit arrived first, just in time for The Empire Strikes Back. Walking into a theater fully suited was transformative. Weeks later, when Tom joined him in armor for Return of the Jedi, something unexpected happened.
Two Stormtroopers drew a reaction far greater than one.
Before there were Garrisons, detachments, charters, or elections, there was a spark. Johnson traces it back to his father, a World War II veteran who raised him on war films. When Star Wars arrived, it carried those same beats: uniforms, squadrons, camaraderie.
Posting photos online, Johnson thought of his father’s WWII flight school graduation book — young aviators united by unit and designation. What if Stormtroopers had that?
As more armored fans appeared, Johnson wrote a backstory for a fictional Imperial Stormtrooper company. He wanted a big number and something bold. “Fighting Five-Oh-First” stuck.
A fan club became a unit. A unit became a movement.
The moment he realized it had outgrown its origins came in May 2002 at Celebration II. More than two hundred Stormtroopers lined up in formation before marching to the RCA Dome.
“This was going to be huge.”
Growth demanded structure. Simple guidelines evolved into identification systems, armor classifications, and eventually a formal charter.
“The rules came as a way to make sure we had fun responsibly,” Johnson explained.
From early on, he believed leadership should be chosen by the membership.
“No one could be permanent, even me. A system is much more reliable than any one person.”
One development surprised him. Charity was never part of the original blueprint. Yet today, service defines the Legion.
“I wish I could take credit for all the charity work we do,” he said. “But I’m just grateful for it.”
Looking at the broader Star Wars costuming community today, he believes the Legion helped blaze a trail, not as a superior organization, but as a model that proved large-scale fandom could operate professionally and earn trust.
In one sentence, he describes the Legion’s legacy this way:
“It’s proof that fandom can be a family and that people all over the world are more alike than they are different.”
TODAY AND TOMORROW
The spark became a structure. The structure requires stewardship.
That stewardship belongs to Justin Sonfield, BH74711 of the Northeast Remnant Garrison, who now begins his fifth term as Legion Commanding Officer.
Election season, for Sonfield, functions as accountability. Each term begins with a State of the Legion and a review of prior goals. Promises are revisited. Results are measured. Leadership, he believes, should be earned term by term.
He describes the role less as command and more as coordination — “like a master aircraft controller,” directing members to the right answers at the right time.
Much of the work is invisible. Member relations. Confidential conversations. Messages that come in at all hours. If you email him, he answers. The job, in many ways, becomes a 24-hour responsibility.
Some duties carry emotional weight. Serving as the interface for Eternal Legionnaire requests is one of them. In recent years, the Legion has experienced significant loss.
“It’s something no one prepares you for.”
Navigating evolving trooping regulations from the Legion’s intellectual property holders has been one of the greatest tests of his tenure. The impact varies globally, but protecting the Legion’s integrity remains paramount.
“It is first and foremost our duty to be seen as the exemplary ‘bad guys’ club.”
Through it all, the membership has proven resilient. Even amid tighter constraints and years without a theatrical release, approvals remain strong and growth continues.
Looking ahead, Sonfield sees momentum returning.
“We have been without a theatrical release for nearly seven years. Things are about to get busy.”
New content will drive interest. But expansion brings responsibility. Costume designs have grown more complex. Approval processes must keep pace. Communication platforms and forums will require modernization to meet newer generations.
Growth, in his view, must be sustainable.
The Legion now spans decades. For Sonfield, honoring long-time troopers who carried the water when the franchise was less culturally dominant remains essential. Preserving their stories is part of sustaining that balance.
When asked how this era of leadership should be remembered, he points to steadiness. The Legion recovered from the pandemic. Membership stabilized. Costumes expanded without major forward-facing crises.
“If you called on us, we were there.”
The foundation he hopes to leave behind is structural rather than personal. Debate is encouraged. Leadership is shared. The system matters more than any individual.
And the future, in one word? “Important.”
The word is deliberate. In a divided world, the Legion’s presence offers escape, connection, and common ground. Growth may be coming. But its purpose, he believes, remains constant.
When asked what he enjoys away from Legion responsibilities, Sonfield does not hesitate. He recharges by visiting Disney parks around the world and sailing.
Even commanders need open horizons.
ALWAYS IN MOTION
At conventions, parades, and community events, members continue to delight fans, raise donations, and spread smiles across faces young and old. And something remarkable happens. For a few moments, real-world worries fade away. Far, far away.
These “bad guys” continue to do an extraordinary amount of good.
I am but a small cog in a much larger Imperial machine, and I am grateful and humbled to be part of it. As the calendar turns toward 2027 and the 50th anniversary of Star Wars, I am just as excited for what comes next for the Legion, including the celebration of its own 30th anniversary.
And I continue to stand proudly alongside like-minded folks who are united, for something bigger than ourselves, under the bucket.