Leonard Johnston
Assistant Chief, United States Border Patrol Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
| Degrees: | MPM/19 |
Leonard “Lenny” Johnston is a United States Border Patrol (USBP) Assistant Chief leading the Europe desk within the USBP Foreign Operations Division. Mr. Johnston has over 25 years of law enforcement service with the United States Government.
Chief Johnston previously worked as a United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Representative assigned to the U.S. Embassy – Ottawa (2011-2015), advising on immigration issues and initiatives under the 2011 Beyond the Border Action Plan. In 2015, Mr. Johnston promoted to Assistant Chief with the United States Border Patrol Headquarters – Washington, DC. In 2016, Assistant Chief Johnston transferred to the USBP Foreign Operations Division where he led the Canada desk. In this capacity, he served as a liaison to the CBP Office of International Affairs – North America Division, advising on U.S./Canada binational border initiatives. In 2017, Mr. Johnston returned to the U.S. Embassy – Ottawa where he was assigned as a CBP liaison to the Canada Border Services Agency until 2022.
In addition to his Master’s Degree in Political Management, Mr. Johnston holds a Master’s Degree in diplomacy and international terrorism from Norwich University (The Military Academy of Vermont). He also earned Bachelor’s Degrees in criminal justice and political science from Norwich University while a member of the Norwich Corps of Cadets. Mr. Johnston recently completed a Post Graduate Certificate in terrorism and political violence at the University of St. Andrews – Scotland.
Mr. Johnston is currently an adjunct instructor at the State University of New York – Canton where he teaches Fundamentals of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
“Participating in the Master of Political Management program enhanced my ability to work with components of the Government of Canada on binational border issues concerning immigration, trade, and border security. The program enriched my appreciation for both Canadian and American systems of government, and solidified my supposition that Canadians and Americans, although not identical, have much more in common than assumed.” – Leonard Johnston
Last Revision: Sep. 11, 2023