For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
Today, President Obama announced his intention to nominate Jane Holl Lute as Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In addition, Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the following appointments for her senior staff: Noah Kroloff, Chief of Staff for Policy to the Secretary; and Jan Lesher, Chief of Staff for Operations to the Secretary.
"I am confident that the counsel and leadership of my senior team will benefit this department greatly," said Secretary Napolitano. "Jane's experience leading large operations with broad and challenging missions lends itself to the undertaking we have before us at Homeland Security. I look forward to working with these talented individuals as we work to further unify this department under our common mission."
Jane Holl Lute, Deputy Secretary
Jane Holl Lute has served under two presidents on the National Security Council staff at the White House. Ms. Lute is currently the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General charged with coordinating efforts to build sustainable peace in countries emerging from conflict. Previously, as Assistant Secretary-General in both the United Nations Department of Field Support and Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Ms. Lute managed and provided critical support to all UN field missions, peacekeeping operations, and special political missions in over thirty countries around the world.
Prior to joining the United Nations, Ms. Lute was Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of the United Nations Foundation and the Better World Fund, the entities established to administer Ted Turner's $1 billion contribution to support the goals of the United Nations.
Ms. Lute headed the Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict and was a senior public policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Prior to working at the White House, Ms. Lute had a distinguished career in the United States Army, including service in the Gulf during Operation Desert Storm.
She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in political science from Stanford University, and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University.
Noah Kroloff, Chief of Staff for Policy to the Secretary
Former Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Policy for Governor Napolitano.
Jan Lesher, Chief of Staff for Operations to the Secretary
Former Chief of Staff for Governor Napolitano and Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce.
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