CAPT Anthony (AJ) Johnson, Ph.D., FACHE

Scientific Advisor and Training Director
Division of Intramural Research (DIR)
anthony.johnson2@nih.gov
240-687-2358

CAPT Anthony Johnson is an active-duty senior officer within the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) and serves as NIMHD’s Division of Intramural Research (DIR) scientific advisor and training director. He provides guidance and management of DIR training programs for NIMHD fellows and investigators and policies for scientific workforce operations.

His work includes oversight of mentoring and fellowship programs, professional development of fellows and intramural staff, development of professional association and academic institutional affiliations, education on grant programs to advance research, scientific program evaluation, strategic planning and policy administration, and management of contract operations. He also serves as a liaison for leadership development initiatives and advises the scientific director on programmatic activities related to biomedical research training and workforce development.

CAPT Johnson has over 30 years of career experience in health care administration, policy and governance, behavioral science, community health, education and training, budget and financial management, foreign affairs and international auditing, organizational leadership, crisis management, and staff development. He graduated from the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Executive Leadership and Thomas C. Dolan Scholar programs and is a distinguished ACHE Fellow.

Before joining NIMHD, Dr. Johnson was a regional behavioral health consultant at the Department of Homeland Security, managing national interdisciplinary behavioral health operations and congressional review of integrative clinical care for migrant communities. Additionally, he has served with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Indian Health Service, Veterans Health Administration, and U.S. Department of State.

CAPT Johnson previously served on the board of directors for the National Association of Social Workers’ Arizona Chapter and was awarded the Arizona State University Center for Allied Behavioral Health Policy National Cultural Heritage Excellence Award.

Within the USPHS, he has deployed on several emergency response and recovery missions to address community health, health disparities, and public health infrastructure, including the Indian Health Service pandemic response, the Great Plains Native American Mission, the responses to Hurricanes Irma and Maria in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, the U.S. Coast Guard Operation Vigilant Sentry Mission, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) South Fork and Salt Fire Mission, and numerous Department of Homeland Security border missions for patient care operations.

He has been awarded numerous service recognitions, including the USPHS Outstanding Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and Department of Defense Humanitarian Service Medal. CAPT Johnson serves as a training advisor and lead faculty for the Commissioned Officer Training Academy on leadership development, senior officer mentor for the Health Services Officer category, and consultant for USPHS professional boards and advisory group operations.

Dr. Johnson received his Ph.D. in human services, focusing on organizational management and program administration, from Capella University; Master of Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington; Master of Theological Studies from Texas Christian University; and Bachelor of Business Administration from Jackson State University.

He is licensed in clinical social work and has board certified diplomate status. His clinical practice specialty and research focus on psychotherapy, , trauma-informed care and resilience, family prevention and intervention modalities, addiction and behavioral science, correctional health, global migrant health, and agile leadership skill development. In addition, he holds a Program and Project Manager certification (P/PM) and a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) Level III certification.

Selected Publications

• Johnson, A.L. (2024, April 5). Tragedy to triumph: Dimensions of social work interdisciplinary disaster psychosocial response for excellence in public health service [Conference session]. International Federation of Social Workers Social Work & Social Development World Joint Conference, Panama City, Panama.
• Johnson, A.L. & Johnson, C. F. (2018) The baseline of leadership. Longwood, Florida: Xulon Press.
• Johnson, A.L. (2015). Terminología de relación (Spanish). Longwood, Florida: Xulon Press.
• Johnson, A.L. (2011). Strategic planning and membership assimilation in faith-based organizations. Longwood, Florida: Xulon Press.
• Johnson, A.L. (2010). Relationship terminology. Longwood, Florida: Xulon Press.

Page updated Feb. 14, 2025  |  published Oct. 3, 2022