10/23/2026
Bedford County government mourns the passing of Scott Johnson, who served 17 years as Emergency Management Agency director and then one term as a county commissioner, a position that had once been held by his father, the late Virgil Johnson.
County Mayor Curt Cobb issued a proclamation in honor and remembrance of Johnson and ordered that flags at county government buildings be lowered to half-staff and remain lowered until sunset on the day of Johnson’s funeral.
In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, local emergency management agencies became part of the Homeland Security program, and Johnson, a retired terrorism investigator for the U.S. Air Force, transformed BCEMA, instituting programs such as a storm shelter network that became a model for the state. When he took the EMA position, there were no functioning tornado sirens in the county; now, there are seven. He worked with local schools, industries, and government agencies on disaster preparedness programs. He coordinated emergency response plans for large public events such as the Celebration and the Webb School Arts and Crafts Fair.
“He professionalized that organization,” said Mayor Cobb. “He led the state in EMA programs.”
During county commission committee meetings on Tuesday, Cobb proposed that the EMA operations center on Railroad Avenue be named in Johnson’s honor – now, in Johnson’s memory. The full county commission will consider the proposal next month.
Johnson also served the State of Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security as terrorism liaison officer.
Johnson served for 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, primarily as a special agent criminal and terrorism investigator. On Sept. 11, 2001, he was scheduled to be part of a meeting at the Pentagon; the meeting was called off at the last minute and Johnson avoided being at the Pentagon when it was struck. After the 9/11 attacks, he was chief of investigations on the Department of Defense Terrorism Task Force, investigating alleged terrorists held at military prisons in Afghanistan and at Guantanamo Bay.
After retiring from the Air Force, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, Johnson and his wife Alice moved home to Bedford County and settled in the Himesville area. He was hired as EMA director and served under three different county mayors: Jimmy Woodson, Eugene Ray and Chad Graham. He wanted to retire in 2020 but was asked to stay and help deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in Bedford County. He retired in 2021 and became a reserve deputy sheriff, logging numerous hours of service. He ran for the county commission the following year, serving until Aug. 31 of this year.
Johnson hosted the radio show and podcast “Gov Talk” for Hopkins Farms Broadcasting/WLIJ Radio, helping to improve public understanding of local government and its functions.
Johnson was a long-time member of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration board of directors, and served on or chaired other community boards, including E-911, Bedford Builds Habitat for Humanity, the Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Bedford County, and the Celebration City Region Car Club.
Johnson, a graduate of Shelbyville Central High School, held a bachelor’s degree in business and finance from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a master’s in justice and public safety from Auburn University. He enjoyed running in 5K and half-marathon events.
But beyond his achievements, Johnson was a people person, someone who cared about others and made whoever he was talking with feel appreciated.
“He was just a good human being,” said Cobb.
Johnson and his wife Alice had two children.
