Representative Dusty Johnson

Biography

Dustin Michael Johnson is a Republican U.S. Representative serving South Dakota's at-large congressional district since 2019. He brings an energetic and optimistic leadership style to his role as South Dakota's lone voice in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Johnson has established himself as a policy expert with deep knowledge of telecommunications and rural infrastructure issues. Prior to his election to Congress, he served as vice president of Vantage Point Solutions, a South Dakota-based engineering and consulting firm specializing in rural telecommunications. At Vantage Point, he worked with a company employing more than 200 employees that helps rural providers design, build, and operate broadband systems across 40 states.

Education

Johnson earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of South Dakota and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Kansas. In 1998, he was named a Harry S. Truman Scholar, a prestigious national honor recognizing leadership potential.

Political Experience

Johnson's public service career began with positions under Governor Mike Rounds, including serving as a senior policy advisor for economic development, energy, corrections, and transportation issues. He also worked as a Truman Fellow for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., and held positions with local governments in the Kansas City area.

In 2004, Johnson was elected to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, becoming the youngest utilities commissioner in the nation at that time. During his tenure on the commission from 2005 to 2011, he served as chairman and worked to facilitate hundreds of millions of dollars in investment into rural energy and telecommunications infrastructure.

In 2010, Governor Dennis Daugaard appointed Johnson as chief of staff, a position he held until 2014. As chief of staff, Johnson served as the chief operating officer for much of state government, overseeing many of the governor's top projects and initiatives, particularly those related to infrastructure and public safety.

In Congress, Johnson serves on committees focused on his areas of expertise: Agriculture, Transportation & Infrastructure, and the Select Committee on China. He is recognized as an expert in state and national telecommunications policy, particularly regarding Federal Communications Commission reform and Universal Service Fund transformation.