A yellow circular shaped embroidered item, consisting of two black vertical stripes superimposed by a diagonally place black stripe, from upper left to lower right, where the stripes cross each other, the portion is yellow, surmounted by a torch, white holder/base, enflamed red, displayed on torch base a yellow sphere, outlined and gridlines red, with a arched diagonally place blue stripe edged black, from upper left of the sphere to lower right; the torch flames partially surmounting a circular white designation band, inscribed JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY in red, all within a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) yellow border.
The disc pattern is taken from the city of Baltimore flag, the location of the university. The torch symbolizes knowledge; the gridline sphere signifies Johns Hopkins Universitys global reputation as one of the most prestigious universities in the world.
The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally authorized 29 May 1969. It was amended to include a subdued insignia on 13 October 1988, currently amended to update the manufacturing drawing on 24 July 2014. (TIOH Drawing Number A-10S-229)