Jeh Johnson served as Secretary of Homeland Security from 2013 to 2017, as General Counsel of the Department of Defense from 2009 to 2012, as General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force from 1998 to 2001 and as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1989 to 1991. Secretary Johnson previously was in private law practice with Paul, Weiss and retired from the firm in June 2025. He is also a member of the board of directors of MetLife and is co-chair of the board of trustees of Columbia University. His previous board service included Lockheed Martin and U.S. Steel. Secretary Johnson also currently serves on the board of directors of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City. He is the 2018 recipient of the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Award, presented at the Reagan Presidential Library, for “contributing greatly to the defense of our nation,” and “guiding us through turbulent times with courage and wisdom.”
