Financial Expert Bret Johnsen Joins USC’s Board of Trustees

USC alumnus and financial strategist Bret Johnsen has been appointed as one of the latest additions to the USC Board of Trustees.

The Los Angeles-born chief financial officer of SpaceX joins the board after accumulating over 20 years of experience in finance, technology, and corporate leadership roles at firms like SpaceX, Mindspeed Technologies, and Broadcom.

“I’m truly grateful for the chance to support my cherished Trojan Family,” Johnsen stated. “Becoming a board member presents an opportunity to enhance the influence I can have over the future of USC, including its students, alumni, faculty, and staff.”

“Bret brings substantial experience in financial oversight of technology companies,” remarked Suzanne Nora Johnson, USC Board of Trustees chair. “In his current role as chief financial officer at SpaceX, he has been at the forefront of innovating the next generation of the aerospace sector in our nation. He has been a committed and prolific promoter of Trojans with degrees in accounting, business, and engineering to the industry, and he has been a strategic supporter in advancing USC’s leadership in space sciences.”

Trojan Heritage

Johnsen, who attained a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the USC Leventhal School of Accounting before earning a master’s degree in finance from San Diego State University, believes his experience at USC shaped him into a more motivated individual post-graduation.

“Observing fellow members of the Trojan Family and their accomplishments really ignited my ambition,” he mentioned. “I feel that graduating from USC instills a great sense of confidence because you have the Trojan Family supporting you and a degree coupled with skills that enable you to succeed.”

He described his time at USC as “some of the most thrilling moments” of his life, emphasizing that the lasting friendships he formed continue to reinforce his connections to the university. “I have consistently felt part of the Trojan Family due to the profound impact USC has had on me, both personally and professionally,” he expressed.

Those friends still gather for tailgating – often 30 to 40 strong – at USC home and away matches and regularly meet socially.

On a more personal note, Johnsen’s son and daughter pursued accounting and business degrees, respectively, at USC Marshall. Having family members attend the university after him allowed Johnsen to witness USC’s growth and progression through generations, which has only deepened his respect for his alma mater.

Professionally, Johnsen has continued establishing connections within the Trojan Family throughout his career, including hiring “hundreds” of USC graduates across the organizations he has worked at and the departments he has led.

“Honestly, I view bringing on USC graduates as very low risk,” Johnsen remarked. “I know they received an exceptional education because I had a similar experience. Above all, you’re gaining an individual who possesses the technical qualifications and the critical thinking capabilities that USC emphasizes.”

Aiming for New Heights

During most of his career, Johnsen has led organizations
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concentrated on semiconductors and software; when he received the call to assist in leading SpaceX, he questioned whether he would be suitable for the position. Nevertheless, once he recognized that SpaceX had a similar culture of innovation as numerous tech firms he had overseen, it quickly felt like a perfect match.

Since that time, Johnsen has been instrumental in SpaceX’s evolution and internal financial processes, and the company has experienced swift growth during his time.

Reflecting on his 14 years with the organization, he is astounded by the advancements.

“We commenced with the ultimate aim to transform humanity and establish us as a multiplanetary species, which seemed like such an ambitious endeavor when I arrived,” Johnsen remarked. “Now, when individuals discover about us, they merely want to ascertain what year we’ll be setting foot on Mars, rather than if we are going to Mars. The change since I’ve been present has been genuinely thrilling to observe.”

Prior to joining SpaceX in 2011, Johnsen held the position of chief financial officer at Mindspeed Technologies, a semiconductor firm located in Newport Beach. Although he entered the company at the onset of the financial market collapse of 2008, he mentioned that he utilized the opportunity to collaborate with the chief executive officer to reorganize the company, resulting in a 15x surge in valuation throughout his three-year tenure. Before that, he spent nearly a decade at Broadcom, where he departed as vice president and corporate controller.

Emerging more resilient

Johnsen points to USC’s notable transition to the Big Ten Conference last year as an illustration of the university’s capability to remain financially astute and uphold a leadership role in demanding situations to ensure the prosperity of its students. As a member of the board, he aspires to assist the university in navigating the constantly evolving higher education environment and “unite as a family and community” to emerge more robust.

“Reaching a certain juncture in your career, you really long to create an impact within the organizations and missions that resonate with you,” Johnsen stated. “As I consider myself, I’m primarily a family man, but closely following that, I’m an American, and I’m a Trojan — if I can make a difference in those three realms, I certainly aim to achieve that.”