Brandon J. Johnson, M.H.S., MCHES is a tireless advocate for positive mental health and suicide prevention services for youth and adults across the country. Brandon earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Morgan State University in 2008 and a Master of Health Science Degree from Johns Hopkins University in 2012. In 2020, Brandon earned the Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) credential from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. Currently, he serves as the Branch Chief of the Suicide Prevention Branch in the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS). In this role, Brandon oversees the suicide prevention portfolio of the agency, which includes nine grant programs and a host of special projects and initiatives created to reduce suicide deaths and attempts in America. In his previous role, Brandon served as a Government Project Officer (GPO) for various suicide prevention grant programs that respectively target youth, adults, and health care systems. Brandon is currently the GPO for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) which provides suicide-specific materials, webinars, and training to organizations and communities all over the country working to prevent suicides. Brandon serves as the subject matter expert in suicide among Black people and leads SAMHSA’s Black Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative, which was created to reduce suicidal ideation, attempts, and deaths among Black youth and young adults between the ages of 5-24. Brandon was the SAMHSA representative on the HHS Report to Congress on African American Youth Suicide, released to the public in March 2020. Previously, Brandon served as the Director of Suicide and Violence Prevention for the State of Maryland.