At the Conference

Cardell Johnson is a Senior Executive at the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO)—an independent federal agency that provides Congress, agency leaders, and the public with timely, fact based, non-partisan information that can be used to improve government. At the GAO, Cardell leads the agency’s oversight work on the federal government’s management of public lands and water resources, including mineral, coastal and marine resources, as well as wildfire management, fresh water supply and National Weather Service programs. In his executive capacity, Cardell testifies as an expert witness before Congress (House and Senate committees) on various land management and water resources topics.

Prior to joining GAO, Cardell served as the Director of Quality Assurance and Risk Management at the United States Agency for International Development, Office of the Inspector General (USAID OIG). Cardell also worked at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a senior budget analyst and Director for Performance Improvement in EPA’s Office of the Inspector General.

Cardell is a former Model UN delegate. He also served as a Director of various committees at both the National Model United Nations (NMUN) and Southern Regional Model United Nations (SRMUN) conferences. Cardell earned a master’s degree in public administration from Indiana University–Bloomington, School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Cardell also graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Alma College.