Sec. Napolitano Announces Pending Departure from DHS
Washington, DC – July 12, 2013 – Secretary Janet Napolitano today released news that she would be accepting the position of president of the University of California if approved by the Board of Regents.
The full text of her note to DHS is below.
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July 12, 2013
Dear Colleagues,
I write to you today to let you know that I am being recommended to the University of California Board of Regents to be the next president of the University of California. If this recommendation is approved by the full Board, I will accept the privilege of leading one of the finest university systems in the country.
The past four-plus years serving as the Secretary of DHS have been the highlight of my professional career. Every day I am inspired by your tireless service on the front lines and your commitment to protecting our communities from harm in order to ensure the safety of all Americans. Together, and because of you, we have made great strides in becoming “One DHS” by leveraging all of our talents and capabilities to fulfill the roles originally intended by those who established our Department. We have worked together to minimize threats of all kinds to the American public. The Department has improved the safety of travelers; implemented smart steps that make our immigration system more fair and focused while deploying record resources to protect our nation’s borders; worked with states to build resiliency and make our nation’s emergency and disaster response capabilities more robust; and partnered with the private sector to improve our cyber security.
You are the faces, the voices and the backbone of America’s safety and security and I am so proud to have had the honor and privilege of serving as your Secretary. Please accept my sincerest gratitude for your dedication and your commitment to public service.
I would also like to thank President Obama for entrusting me with the responsibility of securing our nation. I continue to be motivated by his vision for the future and passion for service.
I will continue to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security through early September. Appropriate transition planning is underway.
I wish all of you the very best as you continue to ensure the safety and resiliency of our nation and thank you, once again, for your service.
Yours very truly,
Janet Napolitano
