Don Johnson, Assistant Secretary for Local Program Coordination and Emergency Response

Biography

Don Johnson currently serves as the Assistant Secretary for Local Program Coordination and Emergency Response for the California Environmental Protection Agency. He is responsible for implementation of the "Unified Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials Management Regulatory Program" or Unified Program, coordination of disaster and emergency response activities for Cal/EPA, environmental enforcement program development and represents the Secretary of Cal/EPA on the Site Designation Committee for hazardous material site cleanup.

Prior to assuming his responsibilities within the Cal/EPA, in October of 1999, he held a number of supervising and management positions within state and local government environmental programs.

He began his career in 1976 with the County of Riverside Division of Environmental Health as an environmental health specialist. Between 1976 and 1987 he worked for environmental health programs within the counties of Riverside, Tulare and San Diego. In Riverside County he managed environmental health programs for the Desert Health District, in Tulare County he was the Director of Environmental Health, and in San Diego he supervised county hazardous materials programs.

From 1987 to 1998 he worked for the California Department of Toxic Substances Control holding several management positions within the Hazardous Waste Management Division. While working for the Department of Toxic Substance Control he was responsible for obtaining RCRA authorization for the State of California and development of the Unified Program.

Don Johnson retired from the United States Naval Reserve in January of 2010 at rank of CAPT. During his 24 year military career he was a Medical Service Corps Officer specializing in hospital management, environmental health and medical plans operations and intelligence.

Don Johnson holds a baccalaureate degree in Environmental Health Science from California State University San Diego and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Golden Gate University. He is registered by the State of California as an Environmental Health Specialist.

Executive Management Biographies