Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano resigned this morning in order to take a position with the University of California.
Napolitano told her senior staff on Friday that she would be resigning. The Homeland Security Secretary announced this morning that she was leaving her position in order to become the President of UC school system.
Napolitano said : “The opportunity to work with the dedicated men and women of the Department of Homeland Security, who serve on the front lines of our nation’s efforts to protect our communities and families from harm, has been the highlight of my professional career… After four plus years of focusing on these challenges, I will be nominated as the next president of the University of California to play a role in educating our nation’s next generation of leaders. I thank President Obama for the chance to serve our nation during this important chapter in our history and I know the Department of Homeland Security will continue to perform its important duties with the honor and focus that the American public expects.”
Napolitano was appointed Homeland Security Secretary by President Obama in 2008. The President issued a statement today thanking the former Attorney General for her service.
Obama said : “At the Department of Homeland Security, Janet’s portfolio has included some of the toughest challenges facing our country. She’s worked around the clock to respond to natural disasters, from the Joplin tornado to Hurricane Sandy, helping Americans recover and rebuild… The American people are safer and more secure thanks to Janet’s leadership in protecting our homeland against terrorist attacks.”
CBS notes that Napolitano oversaw a $60 billion budget and 240,000 employees across agencies like Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Coast Guard during her tenure as DHS Secretary.