Stephen L. Johnson, MS ’76, has been nominated to be the next administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He currently serves as acting administrator and has worked with the agency for 24 years.

President Bush announced the nomination on March 4, 2005, stating, “He [Johnson] knows the EPA from the ground up and has a passion for its mission.” Prior to his current position, Johnson served as deputy administrator and assistant administrator for the EPA’s office of prevention, pesticides, and toxic substances. Johnson also represented the EPA at various national and international forums.

Before working for the EPA, Johnson was the director of operations at Hazelton Laboratories Corporation and Litton Bionetics Incorporated. If confirmed, Johnson will be the first professional scientist to serve as the administrator of the EPA.

Johnson has received numerous awards for his dedication and service to the EPA, including the Excellence in Management Award, seven bronze medals, a silver medal for superior service, and the Vice President’s Hammer Award. In 2001 Johnson received the Presidential Rank Award for distinguished executives for sustained extraordinary accomplishments, which is the highest honor that may be awarded a civilian federal employee.

Johnson received an MS in pathology at The George Washington University in 1976.

Stephen L. Johnson, Acting Administrator of the EPA