On Friday, September 6, Secretary Janet Napolitano bid farewell to DHS at a ceremony in Washington, DC. Vice President Joe Biden, Attorney General Eric Holder and Acting Deputy Secretary Rand Beers delivered remarks and thanked the Secretary for her service to DHS and to our Nation. Beers will now serve as Acting Secretary of Homeland Security.
In attendance at the farewell event were employees from across DHS; federal, state, local and private sector partners; law enforcement colleagues; and international friends and partners. Among these guests were former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, members of the Cabinet and members of the President’s National Security Team.
Seven DHS employees -- representing the more than 240,000 DHS employees serving across the country and around the world -- presented Secretary Napolitano with United States and DHS flags as a token of appreciation.
Secretary Napolitano reflected on her time with DHS and shared some of her memories from the past four and a half years during her remarks. Secretary Napolitano said, “The men and women of DHS have performed their jobs bravely these past four-and-a-half years. Every day, seeing your dedication and commitment – and that of your families – has been a great source of inspiration to me. And I know after I leave, you will still be committed to the mission, you will still continue to perform, and you will still serve this country with the tireless dedication you’ve had during my time here. I hope you will accept my sincere gratitude for your efforts. It has been an honor and privilege to serve with you, and call you my colleagues. I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I wish all of you the very best in the future."
