Tom Ridge

Tom Ridge, born in 1945, governor of Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2001 when he was chosen by President George W. Bush to head what became the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Ridge announced his resignation as the head of DHS in November 2004.

Thomas Joseph Ridge was born in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and moved with his family to the city of Erie in the northwestern part of the state as a young boy. He attended Catholic schools and won a scholarship to Harvard University. He graduated in 1967. Ridge then attended the Dickinson School of Law before being drafted into the United States Army after completing his first year. He was an infantry staff sergeant from 1968 to 1970 during the Vietnam War (1959-1975) and was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery. After serving his time in the army, Ridge returned to law school, graduating in 1972. He worked for a time in private practice before becoming an assistant district attorney in Erie County. In 1982 Ridge won election as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives. He served six terms in the House.

Ridge became governor of Pennsylvania in 1995 and was reelected in 1998. As governor, he focused on tax cuts, crime legislation, and education and welfare reform. He resigned as governor in 2001 when President Bush appointed him director of the new Office of Homeland Security in response to the September 11 attacks by terrorists on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In 2002 Bush nominated Ridge to serve as secretary of the newly created Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a Cabinet-level position. The U.S. Senate confirmed Ridge’s nomination in January 2003. As secretary, Ridge oversaw the department’s mandate to prevent terrorist attacks in the United States, reduce the country’s vulnerability to terrorism, and plan responses and recovery in the case of an attack.

Ridge supervised dozens of agencies, including the Secret Service, Coast Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The grouping of dozens of agencies under a single department was considered one of the largest government reorganizations since World War II (1939-1945). As secretary, Ridge participated in regular briefings for high-level members of the White House, including the president, on the state of terrorist threats to the United States.

During his tenure as secretary, Ridge explored ways to increase security along the borders of the United States. His department also advocated requiring shippers who transport goods into or out of the country to provide details about their cargo prior to its arrival at U.S. borders. Ridge said his resignation, which was effective February 2005, was due to family and personal matters.