CAPT Anthony (AJ) Johnson, Ph.D.

Training Director and Scientific Advisor
Division of Intramural Research
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) Training Director and Scientific Advisor. In his role, 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, scientific program evaluation, strategic planning and policy administration, and management of contract operations. He also serves as an advisor to the Scientific Director on programmatic activities related to biomedical research training, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA).

CAPT Johnson has over 29 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 is a graduate of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Executive Leadership and Thomas C. Dolan Diversity Scholar programs. Before he joined NIMHD, Dr. Johnson served as a Regional Behavioral Health Consultant at the Department of Homeland Security, managing national programs, research, congressional correspondence, and 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 (NASW) 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 served on several deployment missions addressing health disparities and community health, including 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-critical patient care deployments. CAPT Johnson is deeply committed to the Commissioned Corps and serves as a Training Advisor and Lead Faculty for the Commissioned Officer Training Academy (COTA) on Cultural Awareness and as a Senior Policy Advisor of the Health Services Officer Professional Advisory Committee. He frequently presents at forums and health care research seminars in program areas including ethics, patient advocacy, crisis response, clinical methodology, integrated care, trauma-informed intervention, cultural awareness, and community development.

Dr. Johnson received his Ph.D. in human services with a focus on organizational management and program administration from Capella University. In addition, he holds a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington, a Master of Theological Studies from Texas Christian University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration with a Finance concentration from Jackson State University. He is licensed in clinical social work with Board Certified Diplomate status. His clinical practice specialty and research have centered 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 Contracting Officer Representative (COR) Level III certification.

Selected Publications

• Johnson, A.L. & Andrews, C. (2020, September). Behavioral health integration for effective transgender care administration. DHS-IHSC Communicator Journal. Washington, DC.
• Weinburke, M., Wilson, C., Johnson, A.L., Bennett, S., & Degrange, E. (2019, December). Cultural awareness for uniformed services operational and deployment effectiveness. Poster session presented at the AMSUS: A Society of Federal Health Professionals Conference, National Harbor, MD.
• Weinburke, M., Wilson, C., Johnson, A.L., Bennett, S., & Degrange, E. (2019, May). Cultural awareness: What bias do you have? Poster session presented at the USPHS National Scientific and Training Symposium, Minneapolis, MN.
• 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 October 3, 2022