Retired Marine Corps General John F. Kelly was officially sworn in as the fifth Secretary of Homeland Security, Friday, after the Senate voted to confirm him.
(Vice President Mike Pence swore in John Kelly as secretary of homeland security on Friday, after he was confirmed by the Senate. Courtesy of PBS NewsHour and YouTube)
As Secretary of Homeland Security, Kelly now leads the third largest federal department in the United States that includes:
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency
- The Transportation Security Administration
- The U.S. Coast Guard
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and
- The United States Secret Service
(Learn More about John Kelly, courtesy of the U.S. Marines and YouTube)
“I am honored and humbled to take on this responsibility to serve alongside the magnificent men and women of the Department of Homeland Security,” said Secretary Kelly, “and, I look forward to protecting our nation, its citizens, and preserving our liberty and upholding the rule of law as I continue my service to this great country.”
“I ask for your patience and prayers as I take on this tremendous task together with you, and my only plea is that together we focus our loyalty on the Constitution that we all have sworn to preserve and protect and the nation we love.”
Prior to joining DHS, Secretary Kelly served in the United States Marine Corps for 45 years closing his career as the commander of the United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) in 2016.
Secretary Kelly has held senior command positions in Iraq and as the Senior Military Assistant to two Secretaries of Defense.
Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) issued the following statement on the Senate confirmation of retired Marine General John Kelly as Secretary of Homeland Security.
“I am pleased that the Senate voted today to confirm retired Marine General John Kelly as the next Secretary of Homeland Security.”
“As President Trump begins his time in office, it is imperative he has his national security team in place on day one to ensure our homeland is protected.”
“Secretary Kelly is a battle-tested general with experience combating the most critical homeland security challenges facing America, and I am confident he will be a great leader of the Department of Homeland Security.”
“I look forward to working with Secretary Kelly to reform the Department while securing our borders, combating radical Islamist terror, bolstering our cybersecurity networks and defenses, and supporting our first responders to better carry out the paramount task of protecting our homeland and citizens.”
