Leadership
Doloras Johnson, - Director, VACO, Freedom of Information Act Service
Doloras Johnson serves as Director of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Service. The VA FOIA program responds to requests for records from Veterans, their families, the media and other members of the public under the FOIA. The Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 38 C.F.R. 1.554, and the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016, which provides the statutory requirements of Federal Agencies to comply with the provisions of the release of information to members of the public. The FOIA encourages accountability through transparency, by providing the public with a way of knowing what the government is doing. However, there are exclusions, certain sensitive information needs to be protected. The FOIA attempts to balance these two positions. The FOIA Statute specifies nine reasons (exemptions) which would prevent the records from being released, personal privacy, classified or proprietary information, attorney/client privileged information among others.
Prior to her current position, Ms. Johnson served as a Senior Government Information Specialist with the VA FOIA Directorate. Ms. Johnson also served as the FOIA manager with the U.S. Marine Corps, National Capital Region, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where she re-structured and managed their FOIA programs, resulting in streamlining FOIA processes and significantly reducing Agency backlogs. Because of her contributions she was awarded the Commendation for Meritorious Civilian Service, and numerous other awards for her leadership, and management skills.
Ms. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and a Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership.
