• Democratic Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano is the secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She was the governor of Arizona before being confirmed secretary by the U.S. Senate on January 20, 2009.

  In April 2009, Napolitano was criticized for statements included in a Department of Homeland security report that speculated that "right-wing extremist groups" were attempting to recruit "disgruntled" veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. She has apologized for the statements.FOXNews.com: Napolitano Apologizes to Veterans Group for 'Extremism' Report (April 24, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: November 29, 1957
  2. Head the Department of Homeland Security
  3. Birthplace: New York City, New York
  4. Father: Leonard Michael Napolitano
  5. Mother: Jane Marie Winer
  6. Sibling: Leonard Napolitano
  7. Recipient: Truman Scholarship
  8. Elected Arizona governor in 2002; served two terms
  9. Prior offices: U.S. Attorney for Arizona, Arizona Attorney General, Governor of Arizona
  10. First female chairperson of the National Governors Association
  11. Endorsed Barack Obama for President early in his candidacy
  12. Napolitano resigned as governor of Arizona on January 20, 2009Today's News Herald: [1] (January 21, 2009)
  13. Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer took over the position as governor on January 21, 2009Arizona Central: Napolitano confirmed for Homeland Security (January 20, 2009)

• Gubernatorial Platform

  As Arizona's third female governor and the first to serve a second term, Napolitano inverted a billion dollar deficit without raising taxes. She focused on education and immigration reform, and was the first U.S. governor to deploy National Guard troops along the U.S.-Mexico border with federal funding.

• National Attention

  Napolitano made the White House Project's "8 in '08" list as one of eight female politicians who could run for president and be elected. Due to this report as well as Arizona's geopolitical position in the country, the Seattle Times and Denver Post speculated that she would be a potential vice presidential selection in 2008.

  Napolitano was named one of America's "Five Best Governors" in a 2005 issue of Time.

• Department of Homeland Security

  On December 1, 2008, then President Barack Obama announced that he had chosen Janet Napolitano to be the head of the Department of Homeland Security.Bloomberg.com: Obama Picks Clinton, Gates, Napolitano for Cabinet (December 1, 2008)

  She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 20, 2009, the same day Obama took office as President.The Swamp: Senate approves 7 Obama nominees (January 20, 2009)

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Arizona | Obama Endorsements | Obama Cabinet | Barack Obama | Penny Pritzker | U.S. Department of Homeland Security | Obama Administration | Eric Holder | Robert Gates | Hillary Rodham Clinton | Michael Chertoff | Obama Transition Team | Kathleen Sebelius

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