Lisa A. Johnson rejoined the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) as Deputy Assistant Secretary on October 21, 2021 and became Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary on February 10, 2023. Prior to rejoining INL, DAS Johnson served as Deputy Commandant and International Affairs Advisor at the National War College. She served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Namibia from January 2018 until July 2021 and as Charge d’Affaires in Nassau, The Bahamas from 2014-2017.
A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, DAS Johnson joined the Foreign Service in 1992. She has served at Embassies Luanda, Pretoria, Beirut, and Islamabad, as well as in Brussels, seconded to the Office of the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In Washington, her assignments included Director of INL’s Office of Africa and the Middle East, Senior Advisor for South and Central Asia in the Office of the Vice President, National Security Council Director for Middle East Affairs, Deputy Director in the Office of Canadian Affairs, Israel Political-Military Officer in the Bureau of Near East Affairs, and Watch Officer in the Operations Center.
DAS Johnson graduated from Stanford University with an A.B. degree in Political Science and Economics and from Columbia University with a Master of International Affairs degree. She also earned an M.S. degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College.