John Stewart Herrington, born in Los Angeles, California, earned an A.B. from Stanford University in 1961 (Delta Upsilon fraternity) and an LL.B. from the University of California School of Law (Hastings) in 1964. He served in the United States Marine Corps as a First Lieutenant. His legal career included private practice in San Francisco from 1965 to 1981 and serving as deputy district attorney for Ventura County. Politically, he was Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (1981–1983), Deputy Assistant for Presidential Personnel (1983–1985), and United States Secretary of Energy under President Ronald Reagan (1985–1989), succeeding Donald P. Hodel and preceding James D. Watkins. He later chaired the California Republican Party (1995–1997), endorsed Ted Cruz in the 2016 Republican primaries, and supported Rick Perry's nomination as Secretary of Energy in 2016, remaining active in California Republican politics. In business, he was Chairman of Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, Inc., owns Vic Stewart's steakhouses in Walnut Creek and Brentwood, develops real estate, advises corporations, and serves as a board member of the David Horowitz Freedom Center (DHFC). He is married to the Honorable Lois Haight Herrington and has two children.