As a part of general restructuring for 2001, USA Cycling, the national governing body for the sport of cycling, announced the appointment of Dr. Stephen C. Johnson to the position of chief operating officer Thursday.

Johnson began working with USA Cycling in 1998 in a consulting role as the director of Project Triad, a program that consolidated athlete development and other sport services. He joined the organization full time in July 2000 as the director of the USA Cycling Development Foundation, an organization established to raise money for athlete development programs. "USA Cycling has spent the past nine months reevaluating our core mission and organizational goals. As a result of that process, we have emerged with a renewed commitment to international excellence, our bicycle racing community and the growth of competitive cycling in this great country," Johnson said. "Although we have a tremendous amount of work ahead of us, I am excited to be part of a the team that will be dedicated to the realization of these goals."

Johnson's previous national governing body experience includes director of sports science for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (1991-97). He is also a past member of the FIS (international skiing federation) Medical Committee (1996-98).

A noted author and researcher, Johnson was an associate professor of exercise and sports science, as well as adjunct associate professor for the departments of bioengineering and division of foods and nutrition, at the University of Utah. He also served as director for the Human Performance Research Laboratory at the university. Johnson currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Institute of Sport Science and Medicine, located in Salt Lake City.

A cyclist at heart, Johnson was honored by the U.S. Cycling Federation, a member association of USA Cycling, as 1989's Masters Athlete of the Year. His cycling accomplishments include two masters road cycling World Cup championships, eight national road championships and 16 district road titles.

Johnson, who is married and has four children, earned both his bachelor's degree in biology (1978) and his Ph.D. in exercise physiology (1985) from the University of Utah.