Date of Birth: September 11, 1957
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Biography
Jeh Charles Johnson is an American lawyer and public servant who has had a distinguished career in both the private and public sectors. He was born in New York City and raised in Wappingers Falls, New York. Johnson graduated from Morehouse College in 1979 and earned his Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School in 1982. Johnson began his career as an associate at the prestigious New York law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell. He later served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York from 1989 to 1991. Johnson was appointed General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force in 1998 under President Bill Clinton, a position he held until 2001. In 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Johnson as the General Counsel of the Department of Defense, where he played a significant role in formulating the legal framework for U.S. military operations and counterterrorism efforts. Johnson was instrumental in the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which barred openly gay individuals from serving in the U.S. military. In December 2013, Johnson was confirmed as the fourth United States Secretary of Homeland Security, serving from 2013 to 2017. During his tenure, he focused on counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and immigration enforcement.
5 Interesting Facts about Jeh Johnson
1. Jeh Johnson is the grandson of sociologist and Fisk University president Charles S. Johnson.
2. He is an accomplished pianist and has played at various public events.
3. Johnson was named after a Liberian chief who was a friend of his grandfather.
4. He was a member of President-Elect Joe Biden’s transition team in 2020, focusing on national security.
5. Jeh Johnson is a recipient of the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Award.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Jeh Johnson
1. “Our country is safer and more secure than it was at 9/11. Yet, we face a new phase of the terrorist threat.”
2. “In America, we do not have a king. We have a president, and that president is bound by the Constitution.”
3. “The best way to protect our homeland is to protect our values.”
4. “When you are a public servant, you have to serve the people, not your own interests.”
5. “We must strike a balance between maintaining security and upholding civil liberties.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Jeh Johnson’s highest net worth achieved is estimated to be around $11 million.
Children
Jeh Johnson and his wife, Susan DiMarco, have two children: a son, Jeh Charles Johnson Jr., and a daughter, Natalie Johnson.
Relevant Links
1. [Jeh Johnson – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeh_Johnson
2. [Jeh Johnson’s Biography on the DHS website](https://www.dhs.gov/archive/person/jeh-johnson
3. [Interview with Jeh Johnson on NPR](https://www.npr.org/people/343160255/jeh-johnson
