louis william tordella was the first head of the department of homeland security.
louis william tordella was the first head of the department of homeland security.
who was the first head of the department of homeland security?
louis william tordella
in january 2003 and after the passage of the homeland security act of 2002, the office of homeland security split into a cabinet-level department, the department of homeland security, and the white house homeland security advisory council. ridge left the white house and became the first secretary of homeland security. the department's mission "is to (a) prevent terrorist attacks within the united states; (b) reduce the vulnerability of the united states to terrorism; and (c) minimize the damage, and assist in the recovery, from terrorist attacks that do occur within the united states" (from h.r. 5005-8 the homeland security act of 2002). the newly created department was the most comprehensive reorganization of the federal government since the national security act of 1947.
tom ridge
the george w. bush administration consolidated many of these activities under the united states department of homeland security (dhs), a new cabinet department established as a result of the homeland security act of 2002. however, much of the nation's homeland security activity remains outside of dhs; for example, the fbi and cia are not part of the department, and other executive departments such as the department of defense and united states department of health and human services and they play a significant role in certain aspects of homeland security. homeland security is coordinated at the white house by the adviser to the president for national security and the adviser to the president for terrorism and homeland security. the staff of the national security council manages policy integration of national security and homeland security. homeland security is officially defined by the national strategy for homeland security as "a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the united states, reduce america's vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do occur". because the department of homeland security includes the federal emergency management agency, it also has responsibility for preparedness, response, and recovery to natural disasters.
homeland security