Grantland Johnson was born and raised in Sacramento . He was awarded a bachelors degree in government from California State University Sacramento in 1974. He also holds honorary doctorate degrees from CSUS and Golden Gate University (Doctor of Humane Letters).

    Mr. Johnson currently serves as the Director of Community and Economic Development with the Sacramento Central Labor Council. The former Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, was appointed to that position by Gov. Gray Davis in January 1999. As secretary, Mr. Johnson serves as a member of the governor's Cabinet and as his chief advisor on the myriad issues regarding public health, mental health, social services, and rehabilitative services that are the responsibilities of the Agency's 12 departments and one board.

    Mr. Johnson is responsible to a vast constituency that includes the state's most vulnerable populations as well as the vast professional communities of health care and social services providers. Mr. Johnson manages an agency that has more than 34,000 employees and a combined annual state and federal budget of $61 billion. He is responsible for the gamut of policy and program decisions that affect millions of Californians, ranging from affordable health coverage for children and disabled adults and teenage pregnancy prevention to services for California 's aging and developmentally disabled populations to bioterrorism preparedness and clean drinking water. He serves on numerous boards and commissions.