Alex T. Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alex T. Johnson
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| Chief of Staff, U.S. Helsinki Commission | |
| In office February 2019 – January 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Kyle Parker |
| Succeeded by | Dr. Mischa E. Thompson (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Alex Thomas Johnson
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| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Oregon State University (BS, MPP) |
Alex Thomas Johnson is an important person who works in foreign policy. He was the first African-American chief of staff for the U.S. Helsinki Commission. This group started in 1976.
Education
Alex T. Johnson grew up in Portland, Oregon. He went to Oregon State University. There, he earned two degrees. He got a Bachelor of Science in natural resources. Then, in 2006, he earned a Master of Public Policy.
Career
Alex T. Johnson focuses on making foreign policy fair for everyone. He also works on security across the Atlantic Ocean. This means working with countries in North America and Europe.
In 2019, U.S. Representative Hastings chose him for a new role. People praised his strong commitment to human rights.
“I am pleased to welcome Alex Johnson back to the Helsinki Commission ... His broad range of experience—including several years at the U.S. Mission to the OSCE in Vienna—and deep understanding of issues related to fundamental freedoms and human security in North America, Europe, and Central Asia will keep the commission at the vanguard of regional policymaking.”
Johnson worked as a Policy Advisor for the OSCE in Vienna. He held this job from November 2007 to September 2015. The OSCE is an organization that works for security in Europe.
After that, he joined the Open Society Foundations. This group works to build open and democratic societies. He was a Senior Policy Advisor for Europe and Eurasia in Washington, D.C.
He also worked for the Obama Administration. From 2015 to 2017, he was a Special Advisor. He helped with Russia and Ukraine issues at the Department of Defense.
Johnson helped start the Transatlantic Democracy Platform. This group works to protect democratic systems. It also looks at how this affects the security of NATO countries.
He has observed international elections in many countries. These include Azerbaijan in 2010 and Albania in 2009 and 2013. He also observed elections in Tunisia in 2011 and Turkey in 2015. He was in Ukraine for elections in 2010 and 2015.
Earlier in his career, he was a fellow for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. He worked in the office of U.S. Representative Alcee L. Hastings. He also advised local government projects in Portland, Oregon.
In January 2021, Johnson returned to the Open Society Foundations. He took on a new role in their Eurasia Program.
Honors
In 2019, Alex T. Johnson was named an Aspen Ideas Festival fellow. This honor recognized his achievements.
During the Juneteenth celebrations in 2020, he was recognized. He was part of the Black Voices campaign. This campaign celebrates Black leaders in national security. Senior Brookings Fellow Amanda Sloat and Ambassador Barbara A. Leaf honored him.
He is also a Term Member at the Council on Foreign Relations. This is a group that studies foreign policy.
