MOGADISHU – Janet Napolitano, a prominent figure in American politics and security, has carved a distinguished career path, marked by several historic firsts and significant contributions to public service and higher education.
According to TourismAfrica2006, Born on November 29, 1957, in New York, New York, Janet Ann Napolitano grew up in Pennsylvania and New Mexico. Her father, Leonard Michael Napolitano, was an anatomy professor and the Dean at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, while her mother was Jane Marie (Winer) Napolitano. She attended Santa Clara University, where she made history as the first female valedictorian, graduating with a B.S. in 1979. She later earned her J.D. from the University of Virginia in 1983.
Napolitano’s legal career began as a law clerk for Judge Mary Schroeder of the US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, in 1983-1984. She then worked at the Phoenix law firm Lewis and Roca, becoming an associate and later a partner from 1984 to 1993. In 1991, she gained national attention as a member of the legal team representing Anita Hill during the sexual harassment investigation of US Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas.
Her public service career escalated when she was appointed as the US Attorney for the District of Arizona from 1993 to 1997, followed by her tenure as the first female Attorney General of Arizona from 1999 to 2002. She underwent a successful mastectomy for breast cancer in 2000.
Napolitano became the first Democrat in 12 years to be elected governor of Arizona, serving from January 6, 2003, to January 21, 2009. Her leadership extended to the national level when she served as the first female chair of the National Governors Association from August 7, 2006, to July 23, 2007.
Her national prominence grew further when President-elect Barack Obama nominated her to be the Secretary of Homeland Security in 2008. After her confirmation, she served as the third Secretary of the Department and the first woman to hold this position from January 21, 2009, until her resignation in 2013.
Following her time at the Department of Homeland Security, Napolitano became the 20th and first female president of the University of California on September 30, 2013. Her tenure saw her focus on educational initiatives, including the founding of the National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement in 2017.
Napolitano co-authored the book “How Safe Are We?: Homeland Security Since 9/11,” published on March 26, 2019. She announced her decision to step down as president of the University of California in September 2019, later returning to UC Berkeley as a tenured professor at the Goldman School of Public Policy.
On May 4, 2022, President Joe Biden appointed Napolitano to the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, continuing her long-standing service in national security.
Throughout her career, Napolitano has been a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts of America and an avid fan of Arizona’s professional basketball and baseball teams. She enjoys hiking, tennis, and remains an influential figure in American political and academic circles.