In January 2003, Bill Johnson was appointed by Governor Bob Riley as Assistant Director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), followed in November 2005 with an appointment as Director of the agency. ADECA manages more than $200 million in federal grant dollars each year with some 230 employees. The state department assists communities with economic development projects and administers a wide variety of federal and state programs that provide funding to local governments and non-profit agencies throughout the state.

Johnson was instrumental in launching the Governor’s Black Belt Action Commission in 2004, and served as Executive Director during the Commission’s first two years. He also launched and coordinates the Governor's prison reenntry initiative. This initiative, the Community Partnership for Recovery and Renewal or CPR Network partners with hundreds of faith and community based organizations to help people leaving the state prison system break the cycle of recidivism.

Bill is married to the former Kathy Hale of Pueblo, Colorado. Kathy currently serves as the director of Governor Riley's statewide broadband initiative and is former director of Children First Foundation and the Alabama Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.