The Robert H. Jackson Center has appointed James C. Johnson as its new president and chief executive officer.
"Since co-founding the Robert H. Jackson Center in 2001, it's been a privilege for me to watch the Center evolve from its humble beginnings to its current status as a global educational resource," said Greg Peterson, founder and board member. "It was important to us that the next leader of the Jackson Center shares the values and vision that helped us get to where we are today. James C. Johnson is that leader, with the experience and mindset necessary to build on our successes of the past 11 years."
The Jackson Center has played host to two sitting U.S. Supreme Court justices, including former Chief Justice William Rehnquist at the center's formal dedication in 2003. It hosts the International Humanitarian Law Dialogs each year at Chautauqua Institution, a historic gathering of international prosecutors from Nuremberg through present day and leading professionals in the international criminal law field. The three-day events allow participants and the public to engage in meaningful dialogue concerning past and contemporary crimes against humanity and the role of modern international criminal law.
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"It's critical that we make smart strategic decisions to ensure the Jackson Center's growth and future success," said David M. Crane, Jackson Center board chairman. "This is a giant step forward in our plans to institutionalize the Jackson Center. Jim Johnson is an experienced leader at all levels, with specific expertise in strategic vision, stakeholder communications, and planning."
Johnson, who has relocated to the area with his wife Pam, most recently served as the Chief of Prosecutions for the Special Court of Sierra Leone. A distinguished attorney and retired U.S. military officer, he previously served as a professor at the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's School, as legal adviser to the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies and in various operational assignments in the U.S. Army. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska.
"I could not be more honored and excited to begin this new chapter at the Robert H. Jackson Center. I have watched from a distance as the center has matured and developed so impressively from its origins, yet there are new frontiers to explore while keeping the core focus on the Center's educational mission and promoting the Jackson legacy," Johnson said. "It's a privilege to lead the center as we explore new initiatives and partnerships that will keep moving the center's mission forward."
The Robert H. Jackson Center was established to advance the legacy of Justice Jackson through education, exhibitry and pursuing the relevance of his ideas for current and future generations. For more information about the information center or its upcoming events, visit www.roberthjackson.org or call 483-6646.