Rob Johnson joined The Matthew James in an of-counsel capacity addressing federal matters. Mr. Johnson has over a decade of legal experience, most recently focusing on all aspects of government contracts law including work with federal acquisition regulation (FAR) matters and state specific procurement affairs as in house counsel and as an executive. Rob’s background and experience include service as a law clerk in the Baltimore City Circuit court and subsequent experience as in house counsel to both the Baltimore City and Prince George’s County Public school systems where he worked as transactions counsel on procurement and contracting affairs. He has worked as the Purchasing (Procurement) Director for Prince George’s County Public Schools where he directly managed bids, bid protests, contract negotiations and disputes, and internal and external audits. In negotiating the healthcare contract for the system of over 18,000 employees Rob was able to leverage the system’s $2 billion buying power into savings for the system of over $1 million dollars during the course of the 5 year contract term.

As Procurement Director for the State of Maryland’s 2nd largest public school system and the nation’s 26th largest, Rob has overseen multiple school renovation and construction projects contract negotiations and administrations including the $24 million Tulip Grove project. He worked with the Capital Projects division on construction contracts, best value procurement projects done under the Army Corps of Engineers Job Order Contracting (JOC) process, change orders, and co-chaired a board initiative to certify more small firms as MBEs, DBEs, and veteran owned entities eligible to bid on and work on projects. Furthermore, Rob has had exposure to and experience with the federal government’s other transactions authority (OTA) and it’s deployment relative to the $36 billion in construction contracts let by federal agencies in 2018.

Rob attended and graduated from UMBC in 2003 earning a B.A. in Political Science. In 2008 Rob earned his Juris Doctorate degree and admission to the Maryland State Bar.

Rob was appointed by Governor Larry Hogan to the Juvenile Grants Planning Council within the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention. He has served on the Board of Directors for Innovative Learning, LLC and the advisory council for the Mays-Woodson Early Learning Center. In 2014 Rob was named to the Baltimore County Spending Affordability Commission. In addition to formerly serving as Vice Chair of the Baltimore County Human Relations Commission, and Board member to the Night of Peace Family Shelter, Inc., Rob engages in volunteer work with the Combined Communities Advocacy Council of Greater Randallstown, Liberty Road Community Council, Reisterstown Improvement Association, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, and the Liberty Road Recreation and Park Council’s youth basketball program.

The son of two lifelong educators and ministers and the grandson of a former member of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, founder of Abundant Life Towers Assisted Senior Living Facility in Baltimore, and the Center for Creative Learning; Rob learned early on the value and importance of public service. “Serving others is a reward in itself, and using one’s skills to help others achieve better life outcomes is the highest form of selflessness.”