Mr. Johnson serves as the Office of Nuclear Energy’s (NE) Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Chief Operating Officer and is responsible for the management and operations of a combined headquarters and field office staff of about 350 federal personnel and an appropriated budget of about $600 million. Prior to his current position, Mr. Johnson has held several senior management positions within NE including: Acting Director for the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology; Deputy Director for Technology; Associate Director for Advanced Nuclear Research; and Associate Director for Technology and International Cooperation.

Mr. Johnson has been instrumental in launching several Department of Energy nuclear initiatives including the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, the Nuclear Power 2010 program, and the Standby Support/Risk Insurance provision of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Under Mr. Johnson’s leadership, NE’s program priorities are successfully aligned with the President’s Management Agenda, the nuclear energy R&D objectives of the National Energy Policy, and the nuclear energy provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Mr. Johnson has been responsible for the Department’s national and international civilian nuclear energy technology development programs including development of next-generation reactor and fuel cycle technologies, nuclear-assisted hydrogen generation systems, and support of the Nation's university nuclear engineering programs and research reactors.  Mr. Johnson has negotiated and finalized multiple international research and development agreements on behalf of the U.S. government, including several very successful bi-lateral International Nuclear Energy Research Initiative agreements.

Mr. Johnson serves as the U.S. representative to the Generation IV International Forum and was instrumental in expanding membership of the intergovernmental forum to include China and Russia during his 2005-2006 chairmanship. Mr. Johnson also served as Co-Chair of the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Energy Working Group and was instrumental in the Administration’s push for normalization of nuclear cooperation with India.

Mr. Johnson has over 20 years of project management and engineering experience in both government and private industry. Mr. Johnson has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is also a licensed Professional Engineer. Mr. Johnson was a 2006 recipient of the Presidential Rank Award - recognized for his exceptional leadership, long-term accomplishments, and consistent demonstration of strength, integrity, industry, and commitment to excellence in public service.

Last Reviewed: 6/30/2008