ASCE Los Angeles Section

Chief Assistant Executive Officer
Office of the County Executive Officer
Riverside County
4080 Lemon Street, 4th Floor
Riverside, CA 92501

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, California Polytechnic University, Pomona, 1984
Master of Science in Leadership and Organizational Studies, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 2012

County Engineer of th eYear, 2010, County Engineer’s Association of California.
Civil Engineer of the Year in the Public Sector, 2014, ASCE Riverside/San Bernardino Branch

In 23 years with Riverside County, Johnson has risen from an entry-level Civil Engineering position in the Transportation Department to Chief Assistant Executive Officer. He serves as the Chief Operating Office for the County in support of the County Executive Officer and the Board of Supervisors, working collaboratively with all 42 County Departments. He guides the development and monitoring of th eConty’s $4.7 Billion budget to ensure effective and efficient delivery of programs and services to 2.3 million County residents through the County’s 18,000 employees.

From 2008 to 2012, Johnson was Agency Director of the Transportation and Land Management Agency, responsible for oversight of the County’s land use functions and transportation infrastructure through six departments under the Agency umbrella. TLMA had an annual budget of $250 million with 1100 employees. From 2002 to 2008, Johnson was Director of Transportation, responsible for planning, engineering, maintenance and operations of the County’s extensive road, bridge and highway system. During the ten years he led Transportation and TLMA, he was responsible for delivery of $2 Billion worth of transportation projects.

During Johnson’s 23-year careet with Riverside County, the County population grew from 1 million to 2.3 million residents. Significant projects that enabled the County’s transportation infrastructure to maintain the populace’s mobility under his oversight have included:

I-10 interchanges with Monterey Avenue, Cook Street and Washington Street in the 1990’s. I-10 interchanges with Indian Avenue, Palm Avenue, Date Palm Drive and Bob Hope Drive in the 2000’s. Construction of the I-15 at Cantu-Galleano interchange. Reconstruction of the I-215 interchanges at Newport Road, Scott Road, Ramona Expressway at Van Buren Boulevard and Clinton Keith Road at I-15.

Bridge replacements over the Santa Ana River at River Road and Van Buren Boulevard. construction of the new 5-mile Domenigoni Parkway from Menifee to Hemet. Widening of SR79 (Winchester Road) from Temecula to Winchester. Widening of SR79 from I-15 to Temecula City Limits. Construction of SR79 (Temecula Parkway) from I-15 to Butterfield Stage Road.

Expansion of Washington Street south of I-10 and assistance with the planning and development of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Development and implementation of the overhaul of the Riverside County Comprehensive General Plan, including establishment of new transportation corridors, and development of multi-species habitat conservation plan.

Lead staff person on development and adoption of Temecula Wine Country Community Plan, to serve as a guide for development of the Temecula Wine Country into a world-class wine region.

Oversight of the County jail master plan and expansion of the County’s jail system, including upcoming construction of a $300 million 1600 bed jail in Indio and construction of a District Attorney/Public Defender building, along with several court expansion projects County-wide. Construction of an education building at the Riverside County Medical Center in conjunction with the new UC Riverside School of Medicine.

Director, Inland Empire Branch, American Public Works Association, 1998-2008. President of the Branch in 2002.

Director, County Engineers Association of California, 2004-2012. President of CEAC, 2008.
Director, representing California on the Board of the National Association of County Engineers, 2007-2010. Western Region Vice President, 2010-2012.

Panelist with Granville M. “Bow” Bowman, Public Works Director of San Bernardino County, “Engineering in County Governments,” March 2012, ASCE Riverside/San Bernardino Branch.

Member of Hillside Community Church, Rancho Cucamonga. Coached numerous youth soccer, basketball and football teams in “Upward Bound” youth program. Cub Scout Den Leader

George A. Johnson, P.E., Chief Assistant County Executive Officer, serves as the Chief Operation Officer for Riverside County, supporting the County Executive Officer and the Board of Supervisors. As COO, he works collaboratively with all 42 County Departments, and guides the County’s $4.7 Billion budget to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of services to 2.3 million residents through the County’s 18,000 employees.

Johnson has risen through the ranks, starting in 1991 as a Civil Engineer in the Transportation Department. In 1996, he was appointed Deputy Director of Transportation, serving in that post for eight years until 2002, when he became Director of Transportation. During this period, the Transportation Department was responsible for planning, engineering, maintenance and operation of an extensive network of 2600 miles of roads and highways and 1200 bridges.

In 2008, Johnson was selected to lead the County’s Transportation and Land Management Agency, which includes the Transportation, Planning, Code Enforcement, Building and Safety and Environmental Management Departments. The Agency had a $250 million budget, with 1100 employees. He was appointed to his current position in the County Executive Office in 2012.

During his 23-year career with Riverside County, transportation infrastructure projects valued at more than $2 Billionhave been completed. Significant projects have included:

The reconstruction of seven interchanges on Interstate 10 in the Coachella Valley, the construction of the Cantu-Galleano Road interchange on I-15, reconstruction of five interchanges on the I-215 and I-15 in Menifee and Wildomar, and two bridge replacement projects on the Santa Ana River at River Road and at Van Buren boulevard. The latter bridge project was awarded the Government Project of the Year by ASCE’s Riverside/San Bernardino Branch. Projects also included the construction and widening of several roads of regional importance, including Domenigoni Parkway from Hemet to Menifee, Winchester Road from I-15 to Winchester through Temecula and Murrienta, Temecula Parkway form I-15 to Butterfield Stage Road and Washington Street form I-10 to the new Indian Wells Tennis Complex.

Johnson has also been intimately involved in three major planning efforts of regional significance. He was largely responsible for development and implementation of the Riverside County Comprehensive General Plan, including a major overhaul of the Transportation Element and the adoption of the groundbreaking Multi-species Habitat Conservation Plan. He led the development and adoption of the Temecula Wine Country Community Plan, to serve as the guide for expansion and development of the region into a widely-recognized appellation. He has also been involved in the overhaul of the County’s jail master plan, including several courtroom expansions, a new District Attorney/Public Defender building, and a new 1600 bed $330 million jail in Indio.

Although not verified, it is believed Johnson is one of the highest ranking Civil Engineers in government in the State. He has risen above the level of engineering management to a position in general government services. This is completely in keeping with ASCE’s national priority to take full advantage of the experience and judgement of Civil Engineers at the highest levels of public sector employment to advance and improve society.