jeh charles johnson (born september 11, 1957) is an american civil and criminal trial lawyer. he was born in new york city. he was the united states secretary of homeland security. he was the general counsel of the department of defense from 2009 to 2012 during the first obama administration. he completed a bachelor of arts degree at morehouse college (b.a.) and law at columbia law school (j.d.). he is the grandson of sociologist and fisk university president dr. charles s. johnson.