Jeh Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeh Johnson
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Official portrait, 2014
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| 4th United States Secretary of Homeland Security | |
| In office December 23, 2013 – January 20, 2017 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Alejandro Mayorkas |
| Preceded by | Janet Napolitano |
| Succeeded by | John F. Kelly |
| General Counsel of the Department of Defense | |
| In office February 10, 2009 – December 31, 2012 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | William J. Haynes II |
| Succeeded by | Stephen W. Preston |
| General Counsel of the Air Force | |
| In office October 15, 1998 – January 20, 2001 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Sheila C. Cheston |
| Succeeded by | Mary L. Walker |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jeh Charles Johnson
September 11, 1957 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Susan DiMarco
(m. 1994) |
| Parent | Jeh V. Johnson (father) |
| Relatives | Charles S. Johnson (grandfather) |
| Education | Morehouse College (BA) Columbia Law School (JD) |
Jeh Charles Johnson (born September 11, 1957) is an American lawyer and former government official. He served as the United States Secretary of Homeland Security from 2013 to 2017. This important role involves protecting the United States from threats.
Before becoming Secretary, Johnson was the top lawyer for the United States Department of Defense from 2009 to 2012. He worked during the first years of President Barack Obama's time in office. He also worked as a federal prosecutor and as the main lawyer for the United States Department of the Air Force.
Today, Johnson is a partner at a law firm called Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. He is also on the board of directors for MetLife and is a trustee at Columbia University. In May 2025, he was named co-chair of the Board of Trustees at Columbia University. He retired from his law firm on June 30, 2025.
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Early Life and Education
Johnson was born in New York City on September 11, 1957. His mother, Norma, worked for an organization that helps families. His father, Jeh Vincent Johnson, was an architect and a teacher at Vassar College. Jeh's grandfather, Charles S. Johnson, was a sociologist and president of Fisk University. The name "Jeh" comes from a Liberian chief who helped his grandfather in 1930.
Johnson grew up in Wappingers Falls, New York. He finished high school at Roy C. Ketcham High School in 1975. He once said he was not a great student in high school. But in college, he decided he wanted to become a lawyer. This goal motivated him to work harder and improve his grades.
He earned his bachelor's degree from Morehouse College. He then got his law degree from Columbia Law School. He has also received many honorary degrees from different universities.
Early Career as a Lawyer
Private Law Practice and Prosecutor
Jeh Johnson started his career as a lawyer at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in 1984. In 1989, he became an assistant United States Attorney. In this role, he worked as a federal prosecutor in New York. He prosecuted cases involving public corruption, including politicians and police officers.
Johnson returned to Paul, Weiss in 1992. In 1994, he became a partner at the firm. He was the first African American partner there.
Air Force General Counsel
In 1998, President Bill Clinton appointed Johnson as the General Counsel of the United States Air Force. The U.S. Senate approved his appointment. As General Counsel, Johnson was the most senior legal official for the Air Force. He was also the Governor of Wake Island, which the Air Force manages. His time in this role included Operation Allied Force in 1999. He received an award for his excellent service.
Returning to Private Practice
After working for the Clinton administration, Johnson went back to Paul, Weiss in 2001. There, he handled large business lawsuits.
He was also involved with the New York City Bar Association. From 2001 to 2004, he led the committee that reviews and approves judges in New York City.
Involvement with the Democratic Party
Johnson was active in the Democratic Party. He helped raise money and advised presidential campaigns. He advised John Kerry's campaign in 2004. He was also an early supporter of Barack Obama's presidential campaign. He advised Obama on foreign policy and helped with fundraising.
Obama Administration Roles
General Counsel of the Department of Defense
In January 2009, President-elect Barack Obama announced that he would nominate Johnson for General Counsel of the Department of Defense. The Senate confirmed him in February 2009.
In this role, Johnson helped change military commissions. He also worked with Army General Carter Ham to study the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. This policy prevented openly gay people from serving in the military. Their study found that ending the policy would not harm military effectiveness.
Johnson gave speeches about national security. He talked about the importance of not relying too much on the military for things that civilian law enforcement usually handles. He also defended "targeted killings" in some situations.
In November 2012, Johnson gave a speech at the Oxford Union. He talked about how the conflict against al Qaeda should eventually end. He said that "war" should be a temporary state, not a "new normal." He believed that peace should always be the goal. This speech received a lot of attention.
Johnson also wrote the legal opinion that allowed U.S. forces to go into Pakistan to kill Osama bin Laden.
Secretary of Homeland Security
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President Barack Obama nominated Johnson to be the fourth U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security in October 2013. The United States Senate confirmed him in December 2013. He officially started his role on December 23, 2013.
One of Johnson's main goals was to fill important leadership positions in the department. He also worked to make the Department of Homeland Security operate more smoothly. He wanted the department to work together better to face different challenges.
In 2014, many immigrants, including children, arrived at the southern border of the United States from Central America. Secretary Johnson and his department worked with the United States Department of Health and Human Services to help these immigrants. They focused on processing cases for children and families quickly. Johnson also asked Congress for more support to secure the border.
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During 2014, Secretary Johnson also managed the Department of Homeland Security's response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa. The department created rules to screen travelers who might have been infected. This helped reduce the risk to the public. Johnson believed that limiting travel visas would have been a mistake.
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In November 2014, President Obama and Secretary Johnson announced ten new actions to address the issue of undocumented individuals in the United States. Johnson played a big part in writing these actions.
Career After the Obama Administration
For the inauguration of Donald Trump in 2017, Johnson was chosen as the designated survivor. This means he would have become president if a disaster had happened.
After leaving office in January 2017, Johnson rejoined the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. He also serves on the boards of directors for MetLife and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. He is a trustee of Columbia University.
Johnson often appears on TV news shows like Meet the Press and CNN. He also hosts a radio show called All Things Soul on WBGO, which plays classic R&B music.
In June 2018, he spoke out against the practice of separating families at the border. He also wrote to criticize calls to get rid of ICE. Johnson has called for more respectful discussions among political leaders.
In December 2018, Johnson received the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Award. This award recognized his contributions to defending the nation. He has received many other awards for his public service. In May 2022, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
In April 2020, Governor Phil Murphy appointed Johnson to a group. This group worked to plan how to reopen the economy after the COVID-19 crisis.
In June 2020, Johnson was appointed as Special Advisor on Equal Justice in the courts for New York State. He wrote a report that suggested ways to improve fairness in the court system. He noted that many people of color in New York City courts faced challenges due to crowded courts and limited resources.
In August 2023, the president of the American Bar Association asked Johnson to lead a task force. This group will recommend ways to restore public trust in American democracy. In June 2023, he was also asked to co-chair a task force to study the impact of a Supreme Court decision on affirmative action.
In February 2023, Johnson and his family history were featured on the PBS show Finding your Roots. In January 2024, he received the gold medal, the highest honor from the New York State Bar Association.
On May 5, 2025, it was announced that Johnson was appointed co-chair of the Board of Trustees of Columbia University. He retired from Paul Weiss on June 30, 2025.
Personal Life
On March 18, 1994, Johnson married Susan Maureen DiMarco, who is a dentist. They grew up across the street from each other in Wappingers Falls, New York.
He lives in Montclair, New Jersey.
Johnson was in New York City during the September 11 attacks. This day was also his 44th birthday. He often talks about these attacks in his speeches.
See also
