United States Secretary of Homeland Security facts for kids

Quick facts for kidsUnited States Secretary of Homeland Security
	Flag of the Secretary of Homeland Security
	Seal of the Department of Homeland Security
	Incumbent; Alejandro Mayorkas; since February 2, 2021
	United States Department of Homeland Security
Style	Mr. Secretary; (informal); The Honorable; (formal)
Member of	Cabinet; Homeland Security Council; National Security Council
Reports to	President of the United States
Seat	Nebraska Avenue Complex,; Washington, D.C.
Appointer	President of the United States with Senate advice and consent
Term length	No fixed term
Constituting instrument	6 U.S.C. § 112
Formation	January 24, 2003; (18 years ago)
First holder	Tom Ridge
Succession	Eighteenth
Deputy	Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security (DSHS)
Salary	Executive Schedule, Level I

The United States Secretary of Homeland Security is the head of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the body concerned with protecting the American homeland and the safety of American citizens. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet. The position was created following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

List of Secretaries of Homeland Security

Parties

Republican (5) Democratic (3) Independent (4)

Status

Denotes Acting Homeland Security Secretary

No.	Secretary of Homeland Security	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	State of residence	President
1	Ridge, TomTom Ridge (born 1945)	January 24, 2003	February 1, 2005	2 years, 8 days	Republican	Pennsylvania	Bush, GeorgeGeorge W. Bush (Rep)
–	Loy, JamesJames Loy (born 1942) Acting	February 1, 2005	February 15, 2005	14 days	Independent	Pennsylvania	Bush, GeorgeGeorge W. Bush (Rep)
2	Chertoff, MichaelMichael Chertoff (born 1953)	February 15, 2005	January 21, 2009	3 years, 341 days	Republican	New Jersey	Bush, GeorgeGeorge W. Bush (Rep)
3	Napolitano, JanetJanet Napolitano (born 1957)	January 21, 2009	September 6, 2013	4 years, 228 days	Democrat	Arizona	Obama, BarackBarack Obama (Dem)
–	Beers, RandRand Beers (born 1942) Acting	September 6, 2013	December 23, 2013	101 days	Democrat	District of Columbia	Obama, BarackBarack Obama (Dem)
4	Johnson, JehJeh Johnson (born 1957)	December 23, 2013	January 20, 2017	3 years, 28 days	Democrat	New Jersey	Obama, BarackBarack Obama (Dem)
5	Kelly, JohnJohn F. Kelly (born 1950)	January 20, 2017	July 31, 2017	192 days	Independent	Massachusetts	Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (Rep)
–	Duke, ElaineElaine Duke (born 1958) Acting	July 31, 2017	December 6, 2017	128 days	Republican	Ohio	Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (Rep)
6	Nielsen, KirstjenKirstjen Nielsen (born 1972)	December 6, 2017	April 10, 2019	1 year, 125 days	Republican	Florida	Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (Rep)
–	McAleenan, KevinKevin McAleenan (born 1971) Acting	April 11, 2019	November 13, 2019	216 days	Independent	Hawaii	Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (Rep)
–	Wolf, ChadChad Wolf (born 1976) Acting	November 13, 2019	January 11, 2021	1 year, 59 days	Republican	Virginia	Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (Rep)
–	Gaynor, PeterPeter Gaynor (born 1968) Acting	January 12, 2021	January 20, 2021	8 days	Independent	New Jersey	Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (Rep)
–	Pekoske, DavidDavid Pekoske (born 1955) Acting	January 20, 2021	February 2, 2021	13 days	Independent		Biden, JoeJoe Biden (Dem)
7	Mayorkas, AlejandroAlejandro Mayorkas (born 1959)	February 2, 2021	Incumbent		Democrat	Washington, D.C.	Biden, JoeJoe Biden (Dem)

James Loy served as acting secretary in his capacity as Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.

Rand Beers served as acting secretary in his capacity as confirmed Undersecretary of Homeland Security for National Protection and Programs and Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security; Beers was the highest ranking Senate-approved presidential appointee at the Department of Homeland Security.

Elaine Duke served as acting secretary in her capacity as Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.

Kevin McAleenan served as acting secretary in his capacity as Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection. His tenure was ruled unlawful.

Chad Wolf served as acting secretary in his capacity as Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Strategy, Policy, and Plans. His tenure was ruled unlawful.

Peter Gaynor served as acting secretary in his capacity as Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator.

David Pekoske served as acting secretary in his capacity as Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration