Tag Archive for: janet napolitano

Janet Napolitano is a distinguished public servant known for her leadership of complex federal and state organizations. She served as Secretary of Homeland Security from 2009 to 2013. She was the governor of Arizona before that, with previous roles as Arizona’s attorney general and U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona. She made history as the first woman to chair the National Governors Association and was recognized by Time magazine as one of the nation’s top five governors. Since 2013, she has been the president of the University of California.

In her book How Safe Are We?, Napolitano candidly addresses critiques of the Department of Homeland Security, often labeled as a “Frankenstein’s Monster” of government overreach. She examines the department’s challenges and essential role in national security. Despite its diverse functions—spanning terrorism prevention, intelligence, law enforcement, public safety, and disaster recovery—she argues that the department has enhanced our safety, security, and resilience, even within the traditionally protocol-driven culture of Washington, D.C.