United States Secretary of Homeland Security
The United States Secretary of Homeland Security is the head of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the body concerned with protecting the American homeland and the safety of American citizens. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet. The position was created following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
| United States Secretary of Homeland Security | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the Department of Homeland Security | |
 Flag of the Secretary of Homeland Security | |
| United States Department of Homeland Security | |
| Style | Mr. Secretary (informal) The Honorable (formal) |
| Member of | Cabinet Homeland Security Council National Security Council |
| Reports to | President of the United States |
| Seat | Nebraska Avenue Complex, Washington, D.C. |
| Appointer | President of the United States with Senate advice and consent |
| Term length | No fixed term |
| Constituting instrument | 6 U.S.C. § 112 |
| Formation | January 24, 2003 |
| First holder | Tom Ridge |
| Succession | Eighteenth[1] |
| Deputy | Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security (DSHS) |
| Salary | Executive Schedule, Level I |
| Website | www |
List of Secretaries of Homeland Security
change- Parties
Republican (5) Democratic (3) Independent (4)
- Status
Denotes Acting Homeland Security Secretary
| No. | Portrait | Secretary of Homeland Security | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Party | State of residence | President |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Ridge (born 1945) | January 24, 2003 | February 1, 2005 | 2 years, 8 days | Republican | Pennsylvania | George W. Bush (Republican) | |
| – | James Loy[a] (born 1942) Acting | February 1, 2005 | February 15, 2005 | 14 days | Independent | Pennsylvania | George W. Bush (Republican) | |
| 2 | Michael Chertoff (born 1953) | February 15, 2005 | January 21, 2009 | 3 years, 341 days | Republican | New Jersey | George W. Bush (Republican) | |
| 3 | Janet Napolitano (born 1957) | January 21, 2009 | September 6, 2013 | 4 years, 228 days | Democratic | Arizona | Barack Obama (Democratic) | |
| – | Rand Beers[b] (born 1942) Acting | September 6, 2013 | December 23, 2013 | 101 days | Democratic | District of Columbia | Barack Obama (Democratic) | |
| 4 | Jeh Johnson (born 1957) | December 23, 2013 | January 20, 2017 | 3 years, 28 days | Democratic | New Jersey | Barack Obama (Democratic) | |
| 5 | John F. Kelly (born 1950) | January 20, 2017 | July 31, 2017 | 192 days | Independent | Massachusetts | Donald Trump (Republican) | |
| – | Elaine Duke[c] (born 1958) Acting | July 31, 2017 | December 6, 2017 | 128 days | Republican | Ohio | Donald Trump (Republican) | |
| 6 | Kirstjen Nielsen (born 1972) | December 6, 2017 | April 10, 2019 | 1 year, 125 days | Republican | Florida | Donald Trump (Republican) | |
| – | Kevin McAleenan[d] (born 1971) Acting | April 11, 2019 | November 13, 2019 | 216 days | Independent | Hawaii | Donald Trump (Republican) | |
| – | Chad Wolf[e] (born 1976) Acting | November 13, 2019 | January 11, 2021 | 1 year, 59 days | Republican | Virginia | Donald Trump (Republican) | |
| – | Peter Gaynor[f] (born 1968) Acting | January 12, 2021 | January 20, 2021 | 8 days | Independent | New Jersey | Donald Trump (Republican) | |
| – | David Pekoske[g] (born 1955) Acting | January 20, 2021 | February 2, 2021 | 13 days | Independent | Joe Biden (Democratic) | ||
| 7 | Alejandro Mayorkas (born 1959) | February 2, 2021 | Incumbent | Democratic | Washington, D.C. | Joe Biden (Democratic) | ||
| Nominee | Kristi Noem (born 1971) | TBD | Republican | South Dakota | Donald Trump (Republican) |
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![James Loy[a]](/wiki/File:James_M._Loy.jpg)
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![Rand Beers[b]](/wiki/File:Rand_Beers_official_portrait_(cropped).jpg)
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![Elaine Duke[c]](/wiki/File:Elaine_Duke_official_photo_(cropped).jpg)
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![Kevin McAleenan[d]](/wiki/File:Kevin_McAleenan_official_photo_(cropped).jpg)
![Chad Wolf[e]](/wiki/File:Chad_Wolf_official_portrait_2017_(cropped).jpg)
![Peter Gaynor[f]](/wiki/File:Peter_Gaynor_official_photo_(cropped).jpg)
![David Pekoske[g]](/wiki/File:David_Pekoske_official_TSA_portrait_(cropped).jpg)
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a James Loy served as acting secretary in his capacity as Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.
b Rand Beers served as acting secretary in his capacity as confirmed Undersecretary of Homeland Security for National Protection and Programs and Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security; Beers was the highest ranking Senate-approved presidential appointee at the Department of Homeland Security.
c Elaine Duke served as acting secretary in her capacity as Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.
d Kevin McAleenan served as acting secretary in his capacity as Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection. His tenure was ruled unlawful.
e Chad Wolf served as acting secretary in his capacity as Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Strategy, Policy, and Plans. His tenure was ruled unlawful.
f Peter Gaynor served as acting secretary in his capacity as Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator.
g David Pekoske served as acting secretary in his capacity as Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration
References
change- ↑ "3 U.S. Code § 19 – Vacancy in offices of both President and Vice President; officers eligible to act". LII / Legal Information Institute.