Josh Johnson
Master of Community and Regional Planning, 2012

Where do you work and what is your job title?

Currently, I work at Sandia National Laboratories as a Tactical Planner on our Real Estate Team. I am also a part time Adjunct Faculty Member in the CRP Program where I teach a course on visualization tools in the Fall.

What tasks and responsibilities are involved in your work? 

At Sandia, I aid in managing the existing off-site space portfolio including all leased and permitted assets, and plan for new lease and land use permit acquisitions when the need arises. I also work on long term space and site planning, and help to ensure environmental compliance for all leased and permitted assets operated and managed by Sandia.

What projects are you currently working on?

I am currently working on planning four new lease and three new land use permit acquisitions, as well as managing our current portfolio of 20 leases and 73 land use permits across the United States. I am also assisting in long term site planning and development as needed for future growth at the laboratory, and planning for active campus amenities. My team works with “customers” here within the laboratory to help them secure space that is applicable and fitting to their mission work.

What makes your work personally rewarding and how has it impacted you and your community?

Knowing that I am a working part of a company driven in providing service in the national interest makes my work rewarding, and being able to work closely with our customers to understand their needs and help them to secure spaces to ensure successful programs helps me to provide the best service to my professional community as possible. My work has impacted me and allowed me to grow as a professional by teaching me new and valuable skills surrounding community development, public and private practice, politics and economics, and how to utilize these tools to plan for successful spaces. It has also given me a more in-depth understanding of planning and community development which impacts my personal life and the understanding and participation in the community I live in.

How has the CRP program prepared you for your career?

The CRP program prepared me for a successful career in planning by giving me the technical and facilitation skills necessary to understand how to plan for successful places. My student work in the MCRP program allowed me to work with various communities across New Mexico, which helped me to better develop an understanding of the community based planning process and how to ultimately deliver products that suit the needs of our stakeholders. I believe that these skills in combination with the skills I have obtained in my professional career so far have led to a deeper understanding of long-range planning and how it ultimately impacts the daily lives of our communities, or the daily lives of the customers my team serves in my current position. The CRP program provided me with a foundation of technical skills to build upon, and also allows me to connect and interact with other planners in our community so I can continue growing in my profession.

Any additional comments?

Being part of the CRP family at UNM has been, and continues to be, one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I would highly recommend the program to anyone who has an interest in community based planning, development, design or to anyone who wants to make an impact on the way their communities develop and thrive.