Table of Biography
Jeh Johnson is an American lawyer as well as a former government official. Jeh Johnson assumed the office of United States Secretary of Homeland Security from the year 2013 to 2017. This was after holding the positions of United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York and General Counsel of the Air Force.
Early Life and Childhood
Jeh Johnson was born on September 11, 1957, in New York City, New York, USA. He is 66 years old and is under the astrological sign, Virgo. He holds American nationality and his full name is Jeh Charles Johnson.
Jeh V. Johnson and Norma E. Johnson were his parents. He also has one sister and her name is Marguerite Marie Johnson. Likewise, his mother worked for Planned Parenthood whereas his father was an architect and lecturer at Vassar College.
Also, Johnson is the nephew of Kenneth C. Edelin. He is a physician who was a defendant in a landmark case involving abortion rights. Moreover, he is also the grandson of sociologist and Fisk University President Charles S. Johnson. And, his first name is taken from a Liberian chief, who reportedly saved his grandfather’s life while he was on a League of Nations mission to Liberia in the year 1930.
Education
Regarding Johnson’s educational background and qualifications, he graduated from Roy C. Ketcham High School in the year 1975. He then went on to attend college, citing the fact that he didn’t “have a lot of African-American role models”.
During his sophomore year, he thought of becoming an attorney. This led him to work to increase his “GPA above a dismal 1.8”. He finally graduated from Morehouse College (B.A.) and Columbia Law School (J.D.) and is the recipient of thirteen honorary degrees.
Career and Professional Life
Jeh Johnson started his career as an associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in November of the year 1984. He later went on to become the first African-American partner at Paul, Weiss. He then went on to leave private practice in 1989 to serve as an assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York. Johnson was in the Southern District until 1991, prosecuting corruption cases, and then returned to Paul, Weiss in 1992.
Also, after a few years, he was appointed General Counsel of the Air Force by President Bill Clinton after confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Moreover, he was a member of the Executive Committee of the New York City Bar Association and was active in Democratic Party politics, as a fundraiser and adviser to presidential campaigns.
Jeh Johnson was the chief legal officer for the Department and provided legal advice to the Secretary of Defense and other senior officials as well. It was all while him being a general counsel of the Department of Defense.
On the other hand, he was responsible for overseeing the Department’s legal affairs as well including litigation, ethics, and legislative activities. He played a very important role in several high-profile national security initiatives during his tenure. This included the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and the implementation of new rules for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in combat operations.
Caption: Jeh Johnson giving a speech at a program (Source: CNN)
More About Career
Likewise, Johnson was a strong advocate for the use of military commissions to try suspected terrorists, arguing that they were an effective tool for prosecuting individuals who posed a threat to national security.
He had a great impact on the department’s efforts to reform the military justice system and address sexual assault in the military. He was also responsible for overseeing the country’s immigration policies, border security, and counterterrorism efforts. Johnson became part of the response to several high-profile security incidents including the Boston Marathon bombing and the 2015 San Bernardino attack.
However, he has been recognized for his work in national security and was awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal in the years 2012 and 2017. The implementation of new security measures at airports and other transportation hubs and the development of new cybersecurity policies are also some of the initiatives taken by Jeh Johnson. In the year 2014, he even oversaw the ongoing Ebola crisis in West Africa.
During and After the Obama Administration
Johnson was even involved in the Obama administration’s efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp which houses suspected terrorists captured during the War on Terror. He was one of the strong advocates for closing the facility arguing that it was a symbol of America’s diminished moral authority. However, he did face strong opposition from Congress and was ultimately unable to close the camp during his tenure.
He left the Obama administration in January 2017. And returned to private practice and was able to join the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in New York City. He has continued to be involved in public service, serving on several boards and commissions. Johnson also has been a frequent commentator on national security issues.
And also appeared on several news programs to discuss current events. On the other hand, he has engaged in several philanthropic and charitable organizations, including the Council on Foreign Relations and the Legal Aid Society.
Caption: Jeh Johnson along with Obama (Source: NBC News)
Relationship Status
Jeh tied the knot with Susan Maureen DiMarco on March 18, 1994, at Corpus Christi Church of New York City. His wife is a dentist. Moreover, the pair grew up across the street from each other in Wappingers Falls, New York. The couple has two children together and their names are Natalie Johnson and Jeh Charles Johnson, Jr.
Caption: Jeh Johnson along with his wife (Source: The Georgetowner)
Body Measurements
The body measurements of Jeh such as his height, weight, chest size, waist size, hip size, and many other sizes are not available until now. All of these measurements are still under review. However, we do know that he has dark brown eyes and greyish hair as he is getting old.
Social Media
Jeh Johnson is most likely not active on any social media platforms. Or he could have kept his accounts private and only his close ones might have access to it.
Net Worth 2024
According to Idolnetworth, Jeh has a net worth of $2.4 billion and his main income source has to be his career as a lawyer.