Post date: Jul 12, 2013 5:15:55 PM
U.S. Homeland Security chief leaving for academic post.
PARIS, FRANCE (REUTERS) - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said on Friday (July 12) she will leave her position in the Obama administration to lead the University of California.
It was not immediately clear who would replace her at the helm of the Department of Homeland Security, the third-largest U.S. department with a broad mandate including immigration and disaster response.Napolitano, a former Arizona governor, has been a vocal proponent of immigration reform and had a prominent role in briefing Congress and the public about terrorist threats and attacks, such as the Boston Marathon bombings earlier this year.
Obama thanked her for working tirelessly to respond to natural disasters including the Joplin, Missouri tornado and Hurricane Sandy that battered the Northeast, as well as other challenges.
Earlier in her career, Napolitano led the domestic terrorism investigation into theOklahoma City bombing as U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona. She also served as an attorney for Anita Hill, who testified to Senate in 1991, accusing then-U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment.
The Department of Homeland Security was created in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and has more than 240,000 employees focusing on sectors including aviation, border security and cyber-security.