WASHINGTON DC ? Federal judge Michael Chertoff has been nominated to succeed Tom Ridge as the nation?s second Secretary of Homeland Security.
Chertoff was a surprise pick to fill the slot left when former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik withdrew his nomination because of immigration problems with a family housekeeper.
But Chertoff carries his own baggage into the nomination process. While described as a brilliant legal mind and tough federal prosecutor, Chertoff lacks management experience. If confirmed, he would oversee a department of 180,000 people that was formed from 22 federal agencies.
Chertoff, 51, in a statement, said: ?If confirmed as secretary, I will be proud to stand again with the men and women who form our front line against terror.?
His resume includes helping formulate the controversial Patriot Act, which expanded federal eavesdropping powers. He also played important administrative roles in cases such as the federal Enron investigation and helped set federal policy on terrorism after the attacks of 9/11.
If confirmed, Chertoff would leave a lifetime appointment as a federal appellate judge to assume a political post where he serves at the pleasure of the president. He also will lead a huge agency that needs to reform its personnel policies, implement a broader reform plan and deal with morale problems stemming from the merger of disparate departments.
