David T. Johnson
Encyclopedia
David T. Johnson is a United States
diplomat
and the current Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
.
and educated at Emory University
, from which he received a B.A.
in Economics
in 1976. He spent a year working in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
before joining the United States Foreign Service
in 1977. In the course of his career in the Foreign Service, Johnson focused on European security affairs and served as desk officer for Berlin
, Austria
, and Switzerland
; an economic officer at the Embassy of the United States in Berlin
; and a vice consul at the U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juárez
. He later served as Deputy Spokesman at the State Department and Director of the State Department Press Office; United States Consul General in Vancouver
; and Deputy Director of the State Department's Operations Center. He spent 1988-89 studying at the Royal Military College of Canada
.
In 1995, Johnson became Deputy Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs at the White House
and Spokesman for the United States National Security Council
. In January 1998, he became United States ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
, a position he held until December 2001. In May 2002, with the advent of the War in Afghanistan
, Johnson became the United States Department of State
's Coordinator for Afghanistan, a position he held until July 2003. In August 2003, he became Deputy Chief of Mission
at the U.S. Embassy, London.
In 2007, President of the United States
George W. Bush
nominated Johnson as Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
. Following Senate confirmation, he was sworn in to office on October 31, 2007.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and the current Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is a position of the United States government within the Department of State that heads the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, which is responsible for development of policies and...
.
Biography
David T. Johnson was raised in GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and educated at Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
, from which he received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
in 1976. He spent a year working in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is a US federal agency established by the National Currency Act of 1863 and serves to charter, regulate, and supervise all national banks and the federal branches and agencies of foreign banks in the United States...
before joining the United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
in 1977. In the course of his career in the Foreign Service, Johnson focused on European security affairs and served as desk officer for Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
; an economic officer at the Embassy of the United States in Berlin
Embassy of the United States in Berlin
The Embassy of the United States in Berlin maintains diplomatic relations and represents United States interests in dealing with the German government. The U.S. Embassy in Germany has not always been in Berlin.-1797–1930:...
; and a vice consul at the U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez , officially known today as Heroica Ciudad Juárez, but abbreviated Juárez and formerly known as El Paso del Norte, is a city and seat of the municipality of Juárez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Juárez's estimated population is 1.5 million people. The city lies on the Rio Grande...
. He later served as Deputy Spokesman at the State Department and Director of the State Department Press Office; United States Consul General in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
; and Deputy Director of the State Department's Operations Center. He spent 1988-89 studying at the Royal Military College of Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
.
In 1995, Johnson became Deputy Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
and Spokesman for the United States National Security Council
United States National Security Council
The White House National Security Council in the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials and is part of the Executive Office of the...
. In January 1998, he became United States ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
, a position he held until December 2001. In May 2002, with the advent of the War in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
, Johnson became the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
's Coordinator for Afghanistan, a position he held until July 2003. In August 2003, he became Deputy Chief of Mission
Deputy Chief of Mission
A Deputy Chief of Mission , is the number-two diplomat assigned to an embassy or other diplomatic mission. He or she is usually considered the second-in-command or top lieutenant to the Head of Mission...
at the U.S. Embassy, London.
In 2007, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
nominated Johnson as Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is a position of the United States government within the Department of State that heads the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, which is responsible for development of policies and...
. Following Senate confirmation, he was sworn in to office on October 31, 2007.