Janet Napolitano, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, announced her resignation on Friday.

Napolitano, a former governor of Arizona, joined the Obama administration in January 2009. She will be leaving to serve as president of the University of California.

“For more than four years I have had the privilege of serving President Obama and his Administration as the Secretary of Homeland Security. The opportunity to work with the dedicated men and women of the Department of Homeland Security, who serve on the frontlines of our nation’s efforts to protect our communities and families from harm, has been the highlight of my professional career," Napolitano said in a statement.

The biggest change in Indian policy during Napolitano's tenure was the recognition of tribal sovereignty in the Stafford Act. Tribes can request disaster declarations directly from the federal government rather than going through states.

Craig Fugate, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has been mentioned as a possible successor to Napolitano.

Get the Story:
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano stepping down to run UC system (The Washington Post 7/13)
Napolitano Stepping Down as Homeland Security Chief (The New York Times 7/13)

Federal Register Notice:
Solicitation for Comments Regarding Current Procedures To Request Emergency and Major Disaster Declarations (March 8, 2013)

Related Stories:
MPR: FEMA consulting tribes about disaster declaration process (04/12)
Craig Fugate: Consulting tribes on disaster declaration process (4/9)
FEMA to consult tribes about new disaster declaration process (3/11)