Janet Napolitano is the third Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and is leading our nation's collective efforts to secure our country from the threats we face - from terrorism to natural disasters.
To counter the threat of terrorism, Napolitano has forged new partnerships with international allies, and expanded information sharing with federal, state and local law enforcement - building a collaborative effort to detect and disrupt threats early on.
She has initiated a new, more strategic course to strengthen security along our southwest border, deploying additional personnel and advanced technology, while working closely with Mexico to combat violent international drug cartels - resulting in increased seizures of illegal contraband along the border and throughout our country's interior.
Napolitano also has forged a smart and effective approach to enforcing our immigration laws and prioritizing public safety while targeting criminal aliens and aggressively pursuing employers that knowingly take advantage of illegal labor.
She has strengthened the nation's ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters by cutting through red tape and expediting decision-making along the Gulf Coast, providing new resources to build resilient communities and bolster their response capabilities, and calling on all Americans to play a role in the shared responsibility of making our homeland secure.
In each of these areas - counterterrorism; border security; immigration enforcement; and disaster preparedness, response and recovery - Napolitano is building upon the skills and resources of this young department by deploying the best that science and technology have to offer; reinvigorating partnerships with state, local and tribal governments and the private sector - our nation's first detectors and first responders; and implementing a bold Efficiency Review that is making the Department a leaner, smarter agency better equipped to protect the nation.
Prior to becoming Secretary, Napolitano was in her second term as Governor of Arizona and was recognized as a national leader on homeland security, border security and immigration. She was the first woman to chair the National Governors Association and was named one of the top five governors in the country by Time Magazine. Napolitano was also the first female Attorney General of Arizona and served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona.
Napolitano was born in New York City and grew up in Pittsburgh, Penn., and Albuquerque, N.M. She graduated from Santa Clara University, where she won a Truman Scholarship and was the university's first female valedictorian, and received her Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. Before entering public office, Napolitano served as a clerk for Judge Mary M. Schroeder on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and practiced law in Phoenix at the firm of Lewis and Roca.
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Secretary Janet Napolitano's Posts
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Announcing the New and Improved Blue Campaign
June 5, 2013 at 10:46 AM EDTToday, the Department of Homeland Security launched a redesigned Blue Campaign to combat human trafficking.
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Securing our Nation’s Borders
February 14, 2013 at 4:08 PM EDTSecretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano visits the San Diego and El Paso borders.
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Returning to Joplin with Secretary Duncan and FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino
September 22, 2011 at 5:12 PM EDTSecretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano visits Joplin, Missouri with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino, to survey the progress of recovery efforts on the ground
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Secretary Janet Napolitano: Remembering September 11
September 9, 2011 at 5:48 PM EDTThe Secretary of Homeland Security reflects on how one of our nation's darkest days highlighted some of America's qualities
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Building a Culture of Efficiency Across the Federal Government
June 14, 2011 at 6:18 PM EDTThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) makes an unprecedented commitment to efficiency and fiscal discipline in order to best support frontline operations.
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Secretary Napolitano Tours Storm Damage in St. Louis
April 29, 2011 at 1:51 PM EDTSecretary Napolitano travels to St. Louis which suffered damage from tornadoes that struck the region and joins students for the Great Central U.S. Shakeout, a multi-state earthquake drill.
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The New National Terrorism Advisory System
April 20, 2011 at 11:00 AM EDTHomeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announces the launch of the new National Terrorism Advisory System, which will replace the old color-coded system with more detailed and more complete information for your safety.
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Marking the 8th Anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security
March 1, 2011 at 8:00 AM EDTIn 2003, the Department of Homeland Security came into existence. Secretary Janet Napolitano observes the anniversary of that occasion, and discusses the continuing mission of DHS.
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Sharing the Responsibility for Our Collective Security
January 27, 2011 at 5:55 PM EDTSecretary Napolitano announces the Department of Homeland Security's new system for alerting the public to possible security threats.
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Honoring the Memory of Border Patrol Agent Brian A. Terry
December 15, 2010 at 7:12 PM EDTHomeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on the fatal shooting of Border Patrol Agent Brian A. Terry.
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