The New Normal Session V Featuring Kathy A. Johnson, Senior Foreign Service (ret.).

What Will be the New Normal for The United States and the International Community?

In the best of times international relations are dynamic and evolving.  How will the U.S. and other countries react to the challenges they will face as we enter a period of adjustment in the post Covid-19 months and years? Ms. Johnson will use the broad experience she gained as a long-time U.S. diplomat to provide us with insights as to how our country and others might see the future of international relations. 

Kathy A. Johnson is a 31-year career member of the Senior Foreign Service (ret.). She was the Director of the United States Diplomacy Center (2014-2017), the first museum and education center in the United States dedicated to telling the story of American diplomacy. She led the Center team from ground-breaking to opening of this award-winning new museum, including the design and launch of an innovative nation-wide education program on diplomacy.

As Management Counselor, Ms. Johnson managed operations for U.S. Mission Australia (2011-2014), which includes the U.S. Embassy and three Consulates General. She served as Diplomat in Residence in Chicago (2010-2011) and as Foreign Policy Advisor to the Commanding General of USTRANSCOM (2007-2010).  In the latter role, she advised the Commander and worked with U.S. embassies in Europe and Central Asia to successfully negotiate air, land, and sea transit agreements. This work enabled the U.S. Department of Defense to bring supplies to our troops in Afghanistan via intermodal routes saving U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars in transportation fees.

Ms. Johnson was selected for a prestigious corporate fellowship to serve as the Foreign Policy Advisor to the Exxon Chad Pipeline Project in Houston, Texas. She led team-building and organizational development for team members from seven multinational corporations and advised on interactions with host governments, tribes, and villagers. Her other overseas assignments with the Department of State included Syria, Mexico, Austria, and Poland, as well as assignments in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Johnson is currently working as an independent consultant and the CEO of the Veterans Memorial Foundation. Ms. Johnson is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Aurora College, with a B.A. degree in History, a M.A. degree in National Security Strategy from the Air War College, and an M.B.A. from Texas A&M University.

Registration will be available in early July.  Please see this website after July 1.