jeh johnson

Jeh Charles Johnson, often known as Jeh Johnson, is a prominent American lawyer and former government official who served as the 4th United States Secretary of Homeland Security from 2013 to 2017 under President Barack Obama
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. Born on September 11, 1957, in New York City, Johnson has had a distinguished career marked by significant contributions to national security and legal practice
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Johnson’s early life was shaped by his family’s rich history and his experiences growing up in Wappingers Falls, New York
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. His first name, Jeh, was inspired by a Liberian chief who reportedly saved his grandfather’s life during a League of Nations mission to Liberia in 1930
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. Johnson’s grandfather, Charles S. Johnson, was a renowned sociologist and president of Fisk University
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. His mother, Norma Edelin, worked for Planned Parenthood, and his father, Jeh Vincent Johnson, was an architect and lecturer at Vassar College
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Johnson’s academic journey began at Morehouse College, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, and continued at Columbia Law School, where he obtained his Juris Doctor
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. Despite facing challenges and describing himself as a “big underachiever” in high school, Johnson’s determination and vision of becoming an attorney motivated him to improve his grades and excel in his studies
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Before his tenure as Secretary of Homeland Security, Johnson held several key positions in the legal and public sectors
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. He served as the General Counsel of the Department of Defense from 2009 to 2012, where he played a crucial role in the legal approval of military operations authorized by the President and the Secretary of Defense
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. He also worked as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and as the General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force
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As Secretary of Homeland Security, Johnson was responsible for overseeing a wide range of critical areas, including counterterrorism, cybersecurity, border security, immigration enforcement, and disaster response
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. He managed a workforce of 230,000 employees across 22 different components and agencies, such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
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. Johnson is credited with building a more effective and cohesive Department of Homeland Security and raising morale among its employees
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After leaving public service, Johnson returned to private practice as a partner at the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
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. He co-chairs the firm’s Cybersecurity & Data Protection practice and advises high-tech companies, private equity firms, and government contractors on legal matters related to cybersecurity, national security, and data privacy
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. Johnson is also a member of the board of directors of MetLife and a trustee of Columbia University
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In addition to his professional accomplishments, Johnson is a regular commentator on national