Bush elevates career EPA official to top job
Stephen Johnson had been serving as acting head of the agency.
President Bush Friday elevated Stephen Johnson, the acting head of the Environmental Protection Agency, nominating him to the top job on a full-time basis.
"Steve Johnson is a talented scientist and skilled manager with a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship," Bush said. "He has 24 years of experience at the EPA, spanning all four decades of the agency's history."
A career government employee, Johnson became EPA's temporary head six weeks ago. "He knows the EPA from the ground up and has a passion for its mission," Bush said.
Johnson's predecessor, Michael Leavitt, is now serving as HHS secretary.
Bush said one of Johnson's top jobs would be to "lead federal efforts to ensure the safety of our drinking water supply."
Johnson pledged to work to work to advance Bush's environmental agenda while maintaining the country's economic competitiveness. "In my over 20 years of public service," he said, "I have the utmost admiration and respect for my colleagues at the Environmental Protection Agency and throughout the government."
Prior to serving as EPA's acting administrator, Johnson was the agency's deputy administrator. He was assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances from 2001 to 2003.
Johnson also has served as director of the Field Operations Division of EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, deputy director of OPP's Hazard Evaluation Division and executive secretary of the Scientific Advisory Panel for the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. He has held staff and management positions in EPA's Office of Research and Development and Office of Toxic Substances.
Prior to joining the agency, Johnson was director of operations at Hazelton Laboratories Corp. and Litton Bionetics, Inc.