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 Donald Trump |
| 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) |
| Education | Morehouse College (BA) Columbia University (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 this, Johnson was the top lawyer for the United States Department of Defense from 2009 to 2012. This was during the first years of Barack Obama's time as president. He has 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 also serves on the board of directors for MetLife and is a trustee at Columbia University.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jeh Johnson was born in New York City on September 11, 1957. His parents were Norma and Jeh Vincent Johnson. His grandfather, Charles S. Johnson, was a famous sociologist and president of Fisk University. Jeh's unique first name comes from a Liberian chief. This chief reportedly saved his grandfather's life during a trip to Liberia 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 "a big underachiever" in school, getting low grades. He felt he didn't have many African-American role models in his mostly white community.
However, in college, he decided he wanted to become a lawyer. This goal motivated him to work much harder and improve his grades. He went on to graduate from Morehouse College and then Columbia Law School. He has also received many honorary degrees.
Early Career Steps
Becoming a Lawyer and Prosecutor
Johnson started his law career at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in 1984. In 1989, he left to become an assistant United States Attorney. In this role, he worked as a federal prosecutor in New York. He helped bring cases against people who misused their power.
He returned to Paul, Weiss in 1992 and became a partner in 1994. He was the first African-American partner at the firm.
Leading Legal Counsel for the Air Force
In 1998, President Bill Clinton chose Johnson to be 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 Law Practice
After working for the Clinton administration, Johnson went back to Paul, Weiss in 2001. There, he handled large business cases.
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 very active in the Democratic Party. He helped raise money and advised presidential campaigns. He was a special lawyer for John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign. He also supported Barack Obama's campaign early on, advising on foreign policy.
Working in the Obama Administration
Top Lawyer for the Department of Defense
In 2009, President-elect Barack Obama nominated Johnson to be the General Counsel of the Department of Defense. The Senate approved him quickly.
In this role, Johnson helped change military rules and policies. He also co-led a group that studied a policy called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." This policy affected who could serve openly in the military. His group found that changing the policy would not harm military effectiveness.
Johnson gave speeches about national security. He warned against relying too much on the military for tasks usually handled by civilian law enforcement. He also spoke about actions taken against terrorists.
He gave a famous speech in 2012 where he predicted a "tipping point." He believed that the fight against al Qaeda would eventually become more like a police effort against individuals. This speech got a lot of attention.
Reports say that Johnson wrote the legal opinion that allowed U.S. forces to go into Pakistan to find and stop Osama bin Laden.
Leading the Department 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 Senate confirmed him in December 2013, and he was sworn in soon after.
One of his main goals was to fill important leadership positions in the department. He also started an "unity of effort" plan. This plan helped the department work together better to face different challenges.
In 2014, many immigrants, including children, arrived at the southern border of the United States. Secretary Johnson's department worked with the Department of Health and Human Services to help these people. They also tried to make the process of seeking safety faster for children and families. Johnson asked Congress for support to improve border security.
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During 2014, Secretary Johnson also led the Department of Homeland Security's response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa. His department created rules to check travelers who might have been exposed to the virus. This helped keep the public safe without stopping travel.
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In November 2014, President Obama and Secretary Johnson announced new actions. These actions aimed to address the situation of many undocumented individuals in the United States. Johnson played a big part in creating these plans.
Career After the Obama Administration
For the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Johnson was chosen as the designated survivor. This means if something had happened to all the top leaders, he would have become the next president.
After leaving office in January 2017, Johnson returned to his law firm, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. He also joined the boards of MetLife, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, and WBGO. He is also a trustee at Columbia University.
He often appears on TV news shows to share his opinions. He also hosts a radio show called "All Things Soul," which plays classic R&B music.
Johnson has spoken out on important issues. He criticized the practice of separating families at the border. He also called for more respectful discussions among political leaders.
In 2018, he received the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Award. This award recognized his contributions to national defense and his leadership during difficult times. He has received many other awards for his public service.
In 2020, Governor Phil Murphy asked Johnson to help plan how to reopen the economy after the COVID-19 crisis. He also advised on equal justice in the courts of New York State.
More recently, in 2023, he was asked to lead a task force to help restore public trust in American democracy. He also co-chaired a task force to study the impact of a Supreme Court decision on affirmative action. In 2024, he received the gold medal, the highest honor from the New York State Bar Association.
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. Dr. DiMarco was the sponsor at the christening of the USS New Jersey, a submarine.
Johnson lives in Montclair, New Jersey.
He was in New York City during the September 11 attacks, which happened on his 44th birthday. He often mentions these attacks in his speeches.
See also
In Spanish: Jeh Johnson para niños
