Jessica L. Johnson is assistant commissioner of Administration and Operations for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. She leads administration, operations, budget, finance, strategy and research teams. In her previous role as senior policy advisor for Budget, Finance and Policy, she managed the department’s more than $1 billion budget, revised financial systems and led budget, fiscal and procurement teams. She also advised program managers recruiting industries to locate in Tennessee and preparing communities with strategy and infrastructure for economic growth.
In 2017, Johnson received the Tennessee Governor’s Excellence in Service Award. Born in Natchez, Mississippi, and raised in Gallatin, Tennessee, she holds a bachelor’s degree in English and gender studies and an MBA from Vanderbilt University, as well as a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University. She holds additional certificates in public leadership, theology and ministry, Black church studies, preaching and nonprofit management.
Johnson is a board director and executive board treasurer of Millions of Conversations, is a consulting advisor for Soulfire International Ministries, and has served with the American Cancer Society, Room in the Inn, Urban League, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the young leaders committee of the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse. She is an ordained elder at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Nashville, serving in congregational care and Christian education and administering and instructing the 30,000-member church’s Ministers in Training program. In her spare time, she enjoys learning, reading, writing, problem-solving, traveling, being a great aunt to Skye, Tori and Caleb, and becoming better each day.
