Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge Announces Chief Security Officer

Release Date: 12/12/03 00:00:00

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 12, 2003

Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge is pleased to announce the appointment of Jack L. Johnson, Jr., of Virginia, to serve as the Chief Security Officer at the Department of Homeland Security.  Mr. Johnson has served at the Department in this capacity as a detailee since January 2003.  Prior to his assignment to DHS, Mr. Johnson was in his 20th year with the United States Secret Service where he served in various positions including Special Agent in Charge and a Deputy Assistant Director. Prior to his appointment with the Secret Service, Mr. Johnson served for over four years as a police officer and Detective for the Fairfax County, Virginia Police Department.  In addition, Mr. Johnson served in the United States Army as a Criminal Investigator from 1975 to 1979. Mr. Johnson has a Bachelors degree from the University of Maryland and a Masters from George Washington University.

The Chief Security Officer directs all security related activities as they relate to the 22 agencies and over 180,000 employees that now make up the Department of Homeland Security.  The CSO develops security related policy and procedures in the areas of personnel security, administrative security, physical and technical security, counterintelligence and operational security, investigations and inspections and special security related programs.  In addition, the CSO provides support for the Chief Information Officer in the area of security policies and procedures as they relate to classified information technology.

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