Janet Napolitano

Janet Napolitano
Born	Janet Ann Napolitano 11/29/1957
Birthplace	New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer, university administrator
Title	Founder and Faculty Director, Center for Security in Politics at UC Berkeley
Known for	United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Governor of Arizona, President of the University of California
Education	University of Virginia (JD)
Awards	Forbes Most Powerful Women (2012, 2013)

Janet Ann Napolitano (born November 29, 1957) is an American politician, lawyer, and university administrator whose career has spanned the highest levels of state and federal government as well as academic leadership. She served as the third United States Secretary of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, as the 21st Governor of Arizona from 2003 to 2009, as the 23rd Attorney General of Arizona from 1999 to 2003, and as the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona from 1993 to 1997. Following her tenure in federal government, she became the 20th president of the University of California system, serving from 2013 to 2020. Born in New York City and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Napolitano rose through the legal and political ranks of Arizona before achieving national prominence. Forbes ranked her as the ninth most powerful woman in the world in 2012 and the eighth most powerful woman in 2013. In 2008, The New York Times listed her as one of the women most likely to become the first female president of the United States. She is currently the founder and faculty director of the Center for Security in Politics at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley.

Early Life

Janet Ann Napolitano was born on November 29, 1957, in New York City, New York. She grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her family background was rooted in public service and education. Napolitano was raised in a household that valued academic achievement, and she demonstrated intellectual aptitude from an early age.

Growing up in New Mexico, Napolitano developed an early interest in law and governance that would shape the trajectory of her professional life. Her formative years in the American Southwest also informed her later policy perspectives, particularly on issues related to border security and immigration, subjects that would become central to her career in both state and federal government.

Education

Napolitano attended Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. She was a Truman Scholar, a distinction awarded to college juniors who demonstrate outstanding leadership potential and a commitment to public service. She then enrolled at the University of Virginia School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree. During her time at the University of Virginia, Napolitano served as an editor of the Virginia Law Review, reflecting her strong academic credentials in the legal field.

Following law school, Napolitano served as a law clerk to Judge Mary M. Schroeder of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, a prestigious post that launched her legal career. This clerkship provided her with foundational experience in the federal judiciary and helped establish her reputation within legal circles in the American West.

Career

Early Legal Career

After completing her clerkship with Judge Mary M. Schroeder, Napolitano entered private legal practice in Arizona. She joined the law firm of Lewis and Roca in Phoenix, where she practiced commercial litigation and became a partner. Her work in private practice helped her build a professional network across Arizona that would prove valuable in her subsequent political career.

Napolitano first gained significant national attention in 1991 when she served on the legal team representing Anita Hill during the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. Hill's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding allegations of sexual harassment by Thomas became one of the most closely watched events in American political history. Napolitano's involvement in the proceedings raised her profile and established her as a figure of note in Democratic legal and political circles.

United States Attorney for the District of Arizona (1993–1997)

In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Napolitano as the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona. She was confirmed and took office on November 19, 1993, succeeding Linda Akers in the position. As U.S. Attorney, Napolitano oversaw the federal prosecution of cases across Arizona, including cases involving drug trafficking, immigration law violations, and public corruption.

During her tenure, Napolitano led the federal investigation and prosecution efforts related to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing case. She directed the government's case against key suspects in the attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which killed 168 people and was the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in the United States at that time. Her management of this high-profile case further enhanced her reputation as a capable and determined federal prosecutor.

Napolitano served as U.S. Attorney until November 1, 1997, when she departed the position. She was succeeded by Jose de Jesus Rivera.

Attorney General of Arizona (1999–2003)

In 1998, Napolitano ran for the office of Attorney General of Arizona and won the election. She took office on January 4, 1999, succeeding Grant Woods. As Attorney General, she was the chief law enforcement officer of the state of Arizona and oversaw the operations of the state's Department of Law.

During her term as Attorney General, Napolitano focused on consumer protection, environmental enforcement, and issues related to child exploitation and internet crimes. She also used the office as a platform to address border security and immigration-related legal matters, themes that would continue to define much of her subsequent career. She served as Attorney General until January 6, 2003, when she was succeeded by Terry Goddard.

Governor of Arizona (2003–2009)

Napolitano ran for Governor of Arizona in 2002 and won the election, becoming the third woman to serve as governor of the state. She took office on January 6, 2003, succeeding Jane Dee Hull. Her election was notable as she was a Democrat elected in a state that had been trending Republican at the statewide level.

As governor, Napolitano focused on education, economic development, border security, and land preservation. She presided over a period of significant economic growth in Arizona and worked to increase state spending on public education. She also took a prominent role on immigration and border security issues, leveraging Arizona's position as a border state to shape the national debate on these topics.

Napolitano won reelection in 2006 by a substantial margin, reflecting her broad popularity across the state. Her reelection was aided by a reputation for fiscal discipline and her willingness to work across party lines in the state legislature.

During the 2006–2007 cycle, Napolitano served as chairwoman of the National Governors Association, a bipartisan organization representing the governors of the 50 U.S. states and territories. In this role, she helped set the policy agenda for governors nationwide and gained further national exposure.

Time magazine recognized her governance record, and she was profiled as one of the nation's notable governors during this period. The White House Project, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing women's leadership, also identified her as a prominent female political figure.

During her second term, Napolitano vetoed more bills than any governor in Arizona history, using the veto power to block legislation she considered fiscally irresponsible or inconsistent with her policy priorities. She served as governor until January 21, 2009, when she resigned to assume her new role in the Obama administration. Lieutenant Governor Jan Brewer succeeded her as governor.

United States Secretary of Homeland Security (2009–2013)

On December 1, 2008, President-elect Barack Obama announced Napolitano as his nominee for United States Secretary of Homeland Security, as part of his incoming national security team. She was confirmed by the United States Senate and took office on January 21, 2009, succeeding Michael Chertoff, who had served under President George W. Bush.

As Secretary of Homeland Security, Napolitano oversaw a department with more than 240,000 employees responsible for counterterrorism, border security, immigration enforcement, cybersecurity, disaster response, and transportation security. Her tenure was marked by several major events and policy initiatives.

One of the first significant incidents during her tenure occurred on December 25, 2009, when Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, known as the "underwear bomber," attempted to detonate explosives on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 as it approached Detroit. In the immediate aftermath, Napolitano stated that "the system worked," a characterization that drew significant criticism from members of Congress and media commentators who argued that the near-successful attack exposed failures in intelligence sharing and airport screening procedures. Napolitano subsequently clarified her remarks and acknowledged that the incident revealed gaps in the security system that needed to be addressed.

During her tenure, Napolitano also navigated a diplomatic incident with Canada in 2009 after she made remarks that appeared to suggest the September 11 attackers had entered the United States through Canada, a claim that was factually incorrect. Canadian officials and media rebuked the statement, and Napolitano acknowledged the error.

Napolitano's DHS oversaw a significant expansion of immigration enforcement programs, including the Secure Communities initiative, which facilitated cooperation between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement agencies. Her record on immigration drew criticism from multiple directions: immigration enforcement advocates argued she was not aggressive enough, while immigrant rights groups contended that her policies resulted in record numbers of deportations and were overly harsh.

In 2012, under Napolitano's leadership, DHS implemented the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provided temporary protection from deportation and work authorization to certain undocumented immigrants who had been brought to the United States as children. The program was established through an executive memorandum from Napolitano and became one of the most consequential immigration policy actions of the Obama administration.

Napolitano also faced internal management challenges during her time at DHS. In 2012, a lawsuit was filed by James Hayes, a senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official, alleging discrimination and a hostile work environment within the department's leadership. Separately, the chief of staff at ICE resigned amid misconduct allegations. The harassment lawsuit was eventually settled by the government.

The department also expanded its domestic intelligence and monitoring capabilities during Napolitano's tenure, a development documented by The Washington Post in its "Top Secret America" investigative series, which examined the growth of the national security apparatus following the September 11 attacks.

Napolitano served as Secretary of Homeland Security until September 6, 2013. Her deputy secretaries during her tenure included Jane Holl Lute and Rand Beers (acting). She was succeeded by Jeh Johnson.

President of the University of California (2013–2020)

On July 18, 2013, the University of California Board of Regents selected Napolitano to serve as the 20th president of the University of California system. She officially took office on September 30, 2013, succeeding Mark Yudof. The appointment was notable as Napolitano was the first woman to lead the 10-campus University of California system.

As president, Napolitano oversaw one of the largest public university systems in the United States, encompassing campuses from Berkeley to San Diego and serving more than 280,000 students. Her tenure focused on issues including affordability, access for underrepresented students, sustainability, and the relationship between the university system and the state government.

During her presidency, Napolitano navigated tensions with the state legislature over tuition increases, advocated for increased state funding for the university system, and implemented initiatives aimed at improving graduation rates and reducing time to degree completion. She also led the university's response to various political and social challenges, including free speech controversies on campuses and the university's approach to undocumented students in the context of shifting federal immigration policies.

Napolitano served as president of the University of California until August 1, 2020, when she was succeeded by Michael V. Drake.

Post-University Career

Following her departure from the University of California presidency, Napolitano joined the faculty at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, where she has served since 2015 in a teaching capacity. She founded and directs the Center for Security in Politics at UC Berkeley, which focuses on the intersection of security issues and democratic governance.

Napolitano has continued to be active in public commentary on homeland security, immigration, and constitutional issues. In 2025, she publicly criticized the deployment of military forces to domestic situations, calling it a "misuse of presidential power." In 2026, she offered commentary on homeland security operations, providing a perspective informed by her experience leading the department.

She has also participated in public discussions about constitutional law and governance. In 2025, she appeared in a series by the podcast 99% Invisible discussing Article Two of the United States Constitution, which defines executive power.

Napolitano has served on the bipartisan advisory board of States United Democracy Center, an organization focused on election integrity and democratic processes.

Personal Life

Janet Napolitano is unmarried and has no children. She has maintained a relatively private personal life throughout her career in public service. She is a member of the Democratic Party and has been based in the state of Arizona for much of her career, though her role at the University of California brought her to California beginning in 2013.

Napolitano has spoken publicly about her battle with breast cancer and a diagnosis of Addison's disease, a chronic condition affecting the adrenal glands. Her health challenges did not prevent her from continuing in public service roles, and she has discussed these experiences in various public settings.

Recognition

Napolitano has received numerous recognitions throughout her career. Forbes magazine ranked her as the ninth most powerful woman in the world in 2012 and the eighth most powerful woman in the world in 2013, reflecting her role as the head of one of the largest departments in the United States federal government.

In 2008, The New York Times identified Napolitano as one of the women most likely to become the first female president of the United States, a reflection of her prominence in Democratic political circles and her record as a governor and legal figure.

She was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2018, one of the oldest and most distinguished learned societies in the United States.

During her time as governor, she was also mentioned as a potential nominee for the United States Supreme Court, though she was ultimately not nominated.

Legacy

Janet Napolitano's career represents one of the most extensive records of public service by an American woman in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. She held the positions of United States Attorney, state Attorney General, Governor, Cabinet Secretary, and university president — a breadth of experience that few public figures of any gender have matched.

As Governor of Arizona, she demonstrated the ability of a Democrat to win statewide office in a Republican-leaning state, and her governance was characterized by an emphasis on education, fiscal management, and border security. Her two terms as governor left a lasting mark on Arizona's policy landscape.

As Secretary of Homeland Security, Napolitano shaped the department during a critical period in its evolution. The implementation of DACA in 2012 through her executive memorandum became one of the most significant immigration policy actions of the era, affecting hundreds of thousands of young immigrants and generating ongoing legal and political debate that continues years after her departure from office.

Her appointment as president of the University of California made her the first woman to lead the system, and her seven-year tenure involved guiding the institution through a period of fiscal challenges and social change. The Center for Security in Politics that she founded at UC Berkeley has continued to serve as a platform for examining the relationship between security policy and democratic governance.

Napolitano's career has also been marked by the criticisms and controversies that accompany leadership of large institutions and agencies. Her record on immigration enforcement as DHS Secretary drew opposition from both sides of the political spectrum, and her management of the department faced scrutiny from Congress and the media. Nonetheless, her sustained presence in public life across multiple decades and sectors of government and academia has established her as a significant figure in American public affairs.