26 January 2005

Homeland Security's Hutchinson resigns

The following article is excerpted from the 25 January 2005 edition of “The Journal of Commerce”.

Asa Hutchinson, Homeland Security under secretary for border and transportation security, announced his resignation on [24 January], effective March 1.

Hutchinson was passed over to succeed Secretary Tom Ridge as chief of the agency, which includes the Coast Guard and Transportation Security Administration [and Customs and Border Protection]. President Bush earlier nominated Michael Chertoff -- the former head of the Justice Department's criminal division -- to replace him. Ridge plans to leave at the end of the month….

Ridge said Hutchinson served with "energy, integrity and distinction."

"His leadership efforts to provide the latest technology and tools to the 110,000 employees of the Border and Transportation Security directorate, the largest in the Department, have enabled us to keep our country safe and secure," Ridge said in a prepared statement.

Hutchinson moved to under secretary in Homeland Security when the department organized in 2003….