Tom Ridge
Photo courtesy MWSU
St. Joseph, Mo. —Missouri Western announced Wednesday that Tom Ridge, the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania and first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will be the featured speaker during the university’s Convocation on Critical Issues this fall.
“There are few issues more critical than security and terrorism, and few people better equipped to speak to those issues than Tom Ridge,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. “I think our Convocation audience will be inspired by his story. Mr. Ridge was raised in veterans’ public housing in Erie, Pennsylvania, earned a scholarship to Harvard, earned a Bronze Star in Vietnam, and graduated from Dickinson School of Law before being elected to Congress in 1982. After 12 years in office, he served two terms as governor of Pennsylvania. His long career of public service culminated in working to establish the Department of Homeland Security, so he is intimately familiar both with the practical nature of the threat that terrorism poses and the political forces that can impact our response to that threat. I’m really looking forward to hearing what he has to say.”
Tom Ridge is the president and CEO of Ridge Global. As the company’s chief executive, Ridge leads a team of international experts that help businesses and governments address a range of needs throughout their organizations, including risk management, global trade security, emergency preparedness and response, strategic growth, infrastructure protection, technology integration, crisis management and other issues that encompass a diverse portfolio. He also serves as a partner at Ridge-Schmidt Cyber, a cybersecurity firm, founded with former White House Cybersecurity Advisor Howard A. Schmidt.
Following the tragic events of September 11th, 2001, Ridge became the first Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and, on January 24, 2003, became the first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The creation of the country’s 15th Cabinet Department marked the largest reorganization of government since the Truman administration and another call to service for the former soldier, congressman and governor of Pennsylvania.
During his tenure, Ridge worked with more than 180,000-plus employees from a combined 22 agencies to create an agency that facilitated the flow of people and goods, instituted layered security at air, land and seaports, developed a unified national response and recovery plan, protected critical infrastructure, integrated new technology and improved information sharing worldwide. Ridge served as Secretary of this historic and critical endeavor until February 1, 2005.
Before the events of September 11th, Ridge was twice elected Governor of Pennsylvania. He served as the state’s 43rd governor from 1995 to 2001.
Western’s Convocation will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 in the Looney Complex. The event is free and open to the public.
In addition to the Convocation, Ridge will be the guest of honor at the annual Convocation Luncheon at noon Sept. 15 in the Fulkerson Center. Ticket and sponsorship information for the luncheon will be announced at a later date.