The Lands Office administers the park’s land protection program, which includes assessing land acquisition and protection matters; issuing rights-of-way and lands special use permits; maintaining park boundary markers; and working with park neighbors to address possible boundary encroachment concerns. The park shares 443 miles of boundary with more than 2,000 neighbors in Tennessee and North Carolina. 

“Ensuring the protection of lands set aside for the public is a huge responsibility and I’m pleased to welcome Josh to oversee the program,” said Smokies Superintendent Cassius Cash. “The Lands Office is one of the most important and complex operations here at the park and Josh is uniquely qualified to lead it.” 

A native Tennessean, Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree from Tusculum College in Greenville, Tennessee and has previously worked as a licensed real estate agent and GIS specialist.