Scott Johnson is running in the Aug. 4 general election to serve as Bedford County Commissioner in District 5, which lies in the southeastern portion of the county.  

His military and public service careers span 40 years. He said recently that he has been a dedicated community leader since returning home to Bedford County following his military service. He believes it would be an honor to serve Bedford County and the District 5 community, which includes Flat Creek.  

“I value efficient and effective local government focused on responsive public safety, high-quality education, well-maintained roads and infrastructure and responsible economic development,” said Johnson.  

It was his parents, Virgil and Pat Johnson of Shelbyville, he said, who inspired his “commitment to community service.”  

Johnson graduated from Shelbyville Central High School and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. After graduation, he entered active duty as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. He spent most of his 23-year military career as a special agent criminal and terrorism investigator. His final assignment was as chief of investigations on the Department of Defense Terrorism Task Force, investigating alleged terrorists held at military prisons following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.  

After his military retirement, he and wife, Alice, a Bedford County native who works as a speech-language pathologist at Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital, returned home to Bedford County and District 5 in the Himesville area.  

He was then confirmed by the County Commission to serve as Bedford County Emergency Management and Homeland Security director. Johnson served in that capacity for 17 years under Bedford County Mayors Jimmy Woodson, Eugene Ray, and Chad Graham.  

He worked in partnership with community leaders in all sectors and a broad expanse of the community, including the County Commission. His responsibilities included public safety planning and disaster response in Bedford County’s large factories, churches, schools, healthcare facilities, special events, protests, and local government departments and agencies.  

Johnson said while serving as the county director, he secured and administered more than $1 million in grants and federal assistance, which directly benefited safety programs and strengthened critical infrastructure serving residents in Bedford County. He also received the statewide Emergency Management Award, an annual award that is given to one professional emergency manager selected from all 95 counties in Tennessee.  

Johnson is currently vice chairman of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Board of Directors, secretary of the E911 communications board and serves as a board member of Shelbyville/ Bedford County Joint Economic and Community Development and Habitat for Humanity. He is past president of Shelbyville/ Bedford County Chamber of Commerce and United Way Board of Directors.  

There’s more to his community involvement. Johnson actively volunteers as a reserve deputy sheriff in the local patrol division.  

In addition to his community service activities, he’s the “proud” dad to two grown children, Mac (Sara) and Leigh (Grant) and is “Pop” to his “very active” grandchildren, Sadie and Davy.  

He reveals that in addition to his service in the broader county, his ties to District 5, in particular, run deep.  

“My connection to District 5 started when I was young. I spent my high school days hauling hay, bush hogging, and working cattle on several farms in the Flat Creek area of the district. It was hard, but I loved the work and the area. I also drove a tanker truck back then, hauling mash from the Normandy area of the district to feed cattle on our family farm.”  

If elected, Johnson is committed to continuing his active community involvement and engaging with members of the District 5 community.  

“If I’m fortunate to serve the residents of District 5, I will attend Normandy and Flat Creek Fire Department monthly business meetings, monthly meetings of the Raus and Flat Creek Community Centers, and host periodic town hall meetings in our area communities, especially when significant issues are faced by the County Commission that will impact District 5 residents.”