Robert Johnson
Vice President Public Affairs
Robert Johnson joined HighGround in February of 2008 after serving as DOT’s Chief of Staff since November 2006. Prior to this position, he was the Assistant to the Secretary and Director of Public Affairs for the U.S. Department of Transportation. He began his service in September 2003 with the prime task of developing a cohesive national message for the department and its ten subordinate agencies.
Since joining HighGround, Mr. Johnson has specialized in transportation policy and problem solving assignments, while also working to build a sports communications and construction practice within the agency. His work in this area has made him a recognized media and political resource on spring training baseball issues in Arizona, and an effective voice on the policy and politics of professional baseball in the state.
Prior to his position as Chief of Staff to U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, Mr. Johnson was the Director of Communications and Public Information for the Transportation Security Administration, where he was on the media front lines in the nation’s war against terrorism, responsible for communicating the latest developments in transportation security to a global media audience.
Mr. Johnson has more than 28 years of experience in politics, journalism and public affairs. He got his start working as press secretary to Arizona Congressman Jim Kolbe and campaign spokesman to Arizona Senator Jon Kyl. He created a pro-active communications strategy for embattled Arizona Governor Fife Symington, and directed transition media coverage for Arizona Governor Jane Hull. Mr. Johnson also re-tooled the image of the Arizona Department of Transportation while serving as its Director of Communications at a time when a critical 20-year urban freeway plan was being rewritten.
In addition to his experience making headlines, Mr. Johnson also has logged time reporting the news. His journalism career includes work as a reporter, editor and producer in radio, television and wire service newsrooms in Denver, Phoenix, and Tucson.