Nielsen, Kirstjen M. (Kirstjen Michele), 1972-

Kirstjen Michele Nielsen (born May 14, 1972) is an American politician and attorney. She notably served as the United States Secretary of Homeland Security from 2017 to 2019.

Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado and raised in Clearwater, Florida, she attended the Georgetown School of Foreign Service, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. Nielsen then attended the University of Virginia School of Law, receiving her Juris Doctor, and took Japanese studies at Nanzan University, in Nagoya, Japan. After graduating from law school, Nielsen practiced corporate transactional law at Haynes and Boone LLP and worked for Senator Connie Mack of Florida. In 2004, President George W. Bush commissioned her as special assistant to the President for prevention. There she established and managed the Offices of Legislative Policy and Government Affairs at the newly formed Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Nielson also joined President Bush’s homeland security council to devise and execute response plans for domestic incidents.

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