CAPT Anthony (AJ) Johnson, Ph.D.

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, scientific program evaluation, strategic planning and policy administration, and management of contract operations. He also advises the scientific director on programmatic activities related to biomedical research training, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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, international auditing, organizational leadership, and staff development. He graduated from the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Executive Leadership and Thomas C. Dolan Diversity Scholar programs.

Before joining NIMHD, Dr. Johnson was a regional behavioral health consultant at the Department of Homeland Security, managing 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 was deployed on several missions to address health disparities and community health, 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, and numerous Department of Homeland Security border mission for patient care deployments.

He has been awarded numerous service recognitions, including the USPHS Outstanding Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and COVID-19 Pandemic Campaign Medal. CAPT Johnson serves as a training advisor and lead faculty for the Commissioned Officer Training Academy on Cultural Awareness, senior policy advisor for the Health Services Officer Professional Advisory Committee, and fellow of the Black Commissioned Officers Advisory Group Captains’ Council.

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, cultural awareness, trauma-informed care, family prevention and intervention modalities, addiction and behavioral science, correctional health, global migrant health, and leadership 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. & Andrews, C. (2020). Behavioral health integration for effective transgender care administration. DHS-IHSC Communicator Journal. Washington, DC.
• 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 Oct. 16, 2024  |  published Oct. 3, 2022