President-elect Barack Obama announced Monday that Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D), a 1983 Law School graduate, will serve as secretary of Homeland Security in his administration.
After announcing the members of his security team during a press conference, Obama explained his reasoning for choosing Napolitano.
“Janet Napolitano offers the experience and executive skill that we need in the next secretary of Homeland Security,” Obama said. “She has spent her career protecting people — as a U.S. attorney, an attorney general and as governor of Arizona. She understands the need for a Department of Homeland Security that has the capacity to help prevent terrorist attacks and respond to catastrophe — be it man-made or natural.”
Cordel Faulk, University Center for Politics director of communications, media and research, echoed Obama’s confidence in Napolitano’s experience.
“She’ll be an asset as a prosecutor,” Faulk said. “She’s not coming into these issues new; she knows them very well and she brings her Virginia education, which is also a plus.”
Faulk said immigration is one of the main issues that falls under Napolitano’s new role and noted that her background as a governor in a border state will be very helpful.
“As a former state governor she also has a lot of good executive experience that she’ll bring to the table heading a large department,” Faulk said, noting that Napolitano’s qualifications make her both unique and the “obvious choice” for secretary of Homeland Security.
Napolitano is in her second four-year term as governor, which does not officially end until 2010. She will continue to serve as governor throughout the confirmation process, Napolitano’s spokesperson Shilo Mitchell said. Since the confirmation is expected to take place before her term is complete, Arizona’s Secretary of State Jan Brewer (R) will succeed Napolitano.
In addition to her political and jurisdictional experience, Napolitano “came out as an early supporter for Obama’s presidency” and “serves on the advisory board of his transition team,” Mitchell said.
Law School Dean Paul Mahoney expressed enthusiasm about Napolitano’s accomplishment.
“All of us at the Law School are very proud to hear of Napolitano’s nomination,” Mahoney said, adding that Napolitano is an “exceptional public servant [and an] outstanding choice to be the secretary of Homeland Security.”
Mahoney noted that “Governor Napolitano will join a long and distinguished line of Virginia Law School graduates in the security area.” According to a Law School press release, these alumni include Transportation Security Administration Administrator Kip Hawley, FBI Director Robert Mueller, III and Patrick Rowan, assistant attorney general for national security.
Napolitano’s accomplishment “is further evidence of [the] strong ethic of service our graduates have,” Mahoney said.
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