Napolitano, Janet A., 1957-

<p>Janet Napolitano was born in New York, NY and grew up in Albuquerque, NM. She earned her B.S. in Political Science summa cum laude from Santa Clara University, where she was Phi Beta Kappa and the school’s first female valedictorian. She earned her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.</p>

<p>Ms. Napolitano clerked for the Honorable Mary Schroeder on the Ninth Circuit and practiced law with the firm of Lewis and Roca in Phoenix where she was elected partner in 1989. She later served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, Attorney General of Arizona and two-term Governor of Arizona.</p>

<p>Ms. Napolitano was nominated to serve as the third Secretary of Homeland Security by President Barack Obama in 2009. She served in this capacity until 2013, effectively leading the nation’s efforts to prevent terrorist attacks, secure its borders, respond to natural disasters and build domestic resiliency. Under Ms. Napolitano’s leadership, the Department transformed its security capabilities, becoming a more efficient, cohesive and effective organization.</p>

<p>She oversaw critical enhancements to aviation security, including initiatives like the creation of TSA Pre✓® that bolster security while improving the travel experience. Through the expansion of programs like Global Entry and pre-clearance, the Department expanded our borders, helping to identify threats before they depart for the U.S. The Department also significantly enhanced its readiness to meet and combat evolving cyber threats.</p>

<p>Ms. Napolitano spearheaded the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative, creating hope and relief for millions of young people across the nation. During her tenure, the Department shifted its approach to immigration enforcement, better protecting public safety while simultaneously creating a more humane enforcement system. Ms. Napolitano also oversaw historic gains in border security. She was the first woman and is to date the longest serving Secretary of Homeland Security.</p>

<p>Ms. Napolitano currently serves as the 20th president of the University of California, a public research university system with 10 campuses, five medical centers, three affiliated national laboratories, and a statewide agriculture and natural resources program. She was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2015.</p>

<p>Napolitano’s official portrait was unveiled at DHS Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on May 17, 2016.</p>

<p>Janet Napolitano was born on November 29, 1957 in New York City, the daughter of Jane Marie (née Winer) and Leonard Michael Napolitano, who was the dean of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Her father was of Italian descent and her mother had German and Austrian ancestry. Her grandfather was named Filippo Napolitano.</p>

<p>Napolitano is a Methodist. She is the oldest of three children, with a younger brother and sister. She was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she graduated from Sandia High School in Albuquerque in 1975.</p>

<p>Napolitano attended Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa, won a Truman Scholarship, and studied political science. She was named valedictorian of her graduating class. After graduation, she worked as an analyst for the United States Senate Committee on the Budget. In 1978, she studied for a term at the London School of Economics as part of Santa Clara's exchange program through IES Abroad. She then earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. After law school she served as a law clerk for Judge Mary M. Schroeder of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, then joined Schroeder's former firm, Lewis and Roca, in Phoenix. She was named a partner of the firm in 1989.</p>

<p>Janet Napolitano was born on November 29, 1957, in New York City. She moved with her family to New Mexico when she was a young girl. After graduating as valedictorian of her class from the University of Santa Clara, she attended the University of Virginia School of Law and graduated in 1983. She began her career as a clerk for a judge in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. After working for a law firm, Napolitano started her public service career as a U.S. attorney and then as Arizona's attorney general. In 2002, she ran for governor of Arizona. She won the election and was reelected in 2006. As governor, she worked to address illegal immigration by strengthening her state's border and supporting enhanced security measures with regard to drivers' licenses. She also served as a strong advocate for quality schools, affordable health care, and a more efficient bureaucracy. She implemented the first state homeland security strategy in the nation and opened the first state counter-terrorism center in the country. Napolitano was the first woman and first Arizonan to chair the National Governors Association.</p>

<p>Her historical commitment to the responsibility of the federal government to protect our nation's borders made her an appealing choice to President Barack Obama for secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. He summarized his selection of her to the post by recognized that she "insists on competence and accountability. She knows firsthand the need to have a partner in Washington that works well with state and local governments. She understands as well as anyone the danger of an unsecure border."</p>

<p>Napolitano resigned as secretary in 2013 to become president of the University of California system.</p>