Napolitano to leave DHS

Janet Napolitano announced on July 12 that she is resigning the top spot at the Department of Homeland Security to take of the post of president of the University of California system.

Napolitano, who has served as governor of Arizona and a U.S. Attorney, will be the first woman ever to lead the University of California system. The University of California search was led by former movie industry executive Sherry Lansing. In a statement, Lansing said, "While some may consider her to be an unconventional choice, Secretary Napolitano is without a doubt the right person at the right time to lead this incredible university."

President Obama released a statement thanking Napolitano for her service at DHS. "Janet’s portfolio has included some of the toughest challenges facing our country. She’s worked around the clock to respond to natural disasters, from the Joplin tornado to Hurricane Sandy, helping Americans recover and rebuild. Since day one, Janet has led my administration’s effort to secure our borders, deploying a historic number of resources, while also taking steps to make our immigration system fairer and more consistent with our values," Obama said.

Napolitano will take start her new job sometime in September, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.