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Ben Johnson
Assistant to the President and Director of The White House Office on the
President's Initiative for One America
Ben Johnson was appointed to his position, Assistant to the President and Director
of the White House Office on the President's Initiative for One America, on
February 5, 1999. He oversees the first free-standing White House office in
history to examine and focus on closing the opportunity gaps that exist for
minorities in this country. He leads this new office to build on the foundation
laid by the President's Initiative on Race; promote the President's goals of
educating the American public about race. He is also responsible for coordinating
the work of the White House and federal agencies to carry out the President's
vision of One America.
Mr. Johnson joined the White House staff in 1993 as an Associate Director
in the Office of Public Liaison and has served to build support for White House
priorities and to facilitate advice and policy guidance for the Administration's
initiatives. As Special Assistant to the President, he was responsible for all
areas of outreach to the African American community. As Deputy Assistant to
the President, his portfolio covered all areas of outreach to various constituencies,
including Seniors, Hispanics, Jewish, White Ethnic and members of the Disability
Community.
With a reputation for personal integrity and toughness, Mr. Johnson has been
a tireless servant for the public good. His expertise spans over two decades
of nationally recognized leadership and experience in management and public
policy, as well as a long-standing commitment to opportunity and responsibility.
In the late seventies, he was heavily involved in establishing community based
credit unions across the US with a national training program and served as Special
Assistant to the Chairman of the Board of the National Credit Union Administration.
Throughout the next decade, Mr. Johnson served in key positions, in both city
and federal government. In the Carter Administration, he was Director of Consumer
Programs and Special Assistant to noted advocate Esther Peterson. As Administrator
of the Business Regulation Administration (1983 - 1987), Mr. Johnson oversaw
the governing of corporations that conducted business in the District of Columbia,
the issuance of over 110 different business licenses and the enforcement of
food protection laws and weights measure regulations. In 1988, he was appointed
Administrator of the Housing and Environmental Administration and directed enforcement
and compliance of housing and environmental laws in the nation's capitol. Just
prior to joining the White House in 1993, Mr. Johnson maintained the District
of Columbia's Department of Public Assisted Housing as the Director with a budget
over $200 million and supervised the procurement and contracting processes for
maintaining over 11,500 properties.
Mr. Johnson was raised in South Bend, Indiana, and has resided in Washington,
DC for the past 22 years. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including
an honorary doctorate degree for public service. Mr. Johnson is much sought
after speaker and has lectured at many institutions and organizations including
Harvard, the Brookings Institute, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Aspen
Institute.
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