Elaine Duke Explained

Elaine Duke
Office:7th United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
President:Donald Trump
Term Start:April 10, 2017
Term End:April 15, 2018
Predecessor:Alejandro Mayorkas
Successor:Claire Grady (acting)
Office1:Acting United States Secretary of Homeland Security
President1:Donald Trump
Term Start1:July 31, 2017
Term End1:December 6, 2017
Predecessor1:John F. Kelly
Successor1:Kirstjen Nielsen
Office2:United States Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Management
President2:George W. Bush
Barack Obama
Term Start2:June 27, 2008
Term End2:April 2010
Predecessor2:Paul Schneider
Successor2:Rafael Borras
Office3:Chief Procurement Officer of the United States Department of Homeland Security
Term Start3:December 5, 2005
Term End3:October 28, 2007
Predecessor3:Gregory Rothwell[1]
Successor3:Thomas W. Essig
Birth Name:Elaine Costanzo
Birth Date:26 June 1958
Party:Republican
Children:2
Education:Southern New Hampshire University (BS)
Chaminade University (MBA)

Elaine Costanzo Duke (born June 26, 1958) is an American civil servant and former United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, serving from April 10, 2017 until April 15, 2018. She became acting Secretary of Homeland Security on July 31, 2017,[2] when John F. Kelly assumed the office of White House Chief of Staff.[3] She left the acting position on December 6, 2017, upon the confirmation of Kirstjen Nielsen.[4] [5]

Early life and education

The daughter of Francesco (Frank) Costanzo and Concetta Scherma, Duke is a native of Ohio.[6] Her maternal grandparents emigrated from Aidone, Sicily and her paternal family roots can be traced to Coreno Ausonio in the Lazio region of Italy.[7] She graduated with a B.S. in business management from New Hampshire College (now Southern New Hampshire University) and an M.B.A. from Chaminade University of Honolulu.[6] [8]

Career

Duke held a consulting practice at Elaine Duke & Associates, LLC in Woodbridge, Virginia.[9]

Duke served as Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Management at the department under both presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama from July 2008 to April 2010.[10] [11] She has more than 28 years of experience with the federal government.[12] In 2018, Duke was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.[13]

Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security

On January 30, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Duke as United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.[12] Duke's nomination received a hearing before the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on March 8, 2017.[14] On March 15, 2017, her nomination was reported to the United States Senate.[15] On April 4, 2017, she was confirmed by a vote of 85–14.[16]

On February 23, 2018, she announced plans to retire from her position as Deputy Secretary in April of the same year, after serving in the federal government of the U.S. for over thirty years.[17] [18]

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security

After John F. Kelly was named White House Chief of Staff on July 28, 2017, Duke was named Acting Secretary of Homeland Security.

In September 2017, in the wake of Hurricane Maria, Duke made the decision to waive the Jones Act for ten days, which requires goods shipped between points in the U.S. to be carried by vessels built, owned, and operated by Americans. The waiving of the act allows foreign nations to bring aid to Puerto Rico.[19]

During a White House news conference regarding Hurricane Maria, Duke said the government response to Hurricane Maria was "a good news story." San Juan, Puerto Rico Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz responded, "This is not a good news story. This is a 'people are dying' story."[20] [21] [22] Duke then traveled to Puerto Rico, met with officials at the San Juan International Airport (sic, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport) and clarified her earlier remark by stating, "there's much more work to do, and we will never be satisfied."[23] In 2020, Duke told in interviews that Trump briefly considered divesting from or selling Puerto Rico as the disaster hit the island.[24] [25]

In a July 2020 interview with The New York Times, after her tenure had ended, Duke criticized Trump's and his administration's approach and rhetoric on immigration-related issues.[24]

Personal life

In 2006, Duke married Harold Vincent Hanson, a Navy retiree. She has two sons from a previous marriage.[26] Duke identifies as a Republican.[24]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: DHS Senior Leadership: The First Five Years: 2003-2008 . May 3, 2019 . September 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180912022123/https://www.historyassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/US-Department-of-Homeland-Security-Senior-Leadership-2003-2008.pdf . dead . United States Department of Homeland Security.
  2. Web site: Elaine C. Duke. United States Department of Homeland Security. August 8, 2017. Elaine Duke became the Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on July 31, 2017. She was previously sworn in as the seventh Deputy Secretary of DHS on April 10, 2017..
  3. Web site: Statement from Press Secretary Dave Lapan on Homeland Security Leadership . July 28, 2017.
  4. Web site: PN1544 - Nomination of Elaine C. Duke for Department of Homeland Security, 110th Congress (2007-2008). June 27, 2008. www.congress.gov.
  5. Web site: PN135 - Nomination of Rafael Borras for Department of Homeland Security, 112th Congress (2011-2012). April 14, 2011. www.congress.gov.
  6. Web site: Nomination of Elaine C. Duke to be Under Secretary for Management, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. June 20, 2008. U.S. Government Printing Office. Ms. Duke is a native of Ohio and a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University. She received her M.B.A. from Chaminade University in Honolulu..
  7. Web site: Ohio Woman Confirmed Homeland Security Deputy Secretary. La Gazetta Italiana. 2017. November 27, 2017. December 1, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041951/https://www.rgwwmar.lagazzettaitaliana.com/people/8404-ohio-woman-confirmed-homeland-security-deputy-secretary. dead.
  8. Web site: Elaine C. Duke. United States Department of Homeland Security. August 8, 2017. Acting Secretary Duke received her B.S. in Business Management from New Hampshire College, now Southern New Hampshire University, and her M.B.A. from Chaminade University of Honolulu..
  9. Web site: Home. www.edukeassociates.com. en-US. March 13, 2017. March 13, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170313214345/http://www.edukeassociates.com/. dead.
  10. News: Elaine Duke picked as Homeland Security deputy secretary. January 30, 2017 . washingtontimes.com.
  11. News: Trump to nominate Elaine Duke as Homeland Security deputy secretary. January 30, 2017 . reuters.com.
  12. News: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Elaine Duke as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security . January 30, 2017. March 13, 2017. . . en.
  13. Web site: Incorporated . Prime . National Academy of Public Administration . 2023-02-07 . National Academy of Public Administration . en.
  14. Web site: Hearings | Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee. www.hsgac.senate.gov.
  15. Web site: Senate of the United States: Executive Calendar, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, March 15, 2017.
  16. Web site: U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 115th Congress - 1st Session. www.senate.gov.
  17. News: Politico . Elaine Duke, Homeland Security deputy secretary, retires . February 26, 2018 .
  18. News: CBS News . Deputy DHS Secretary Elaine Duke retiring . February 26, 2018 .
  19. News: Chokshi . Niraj . Trump Waives Jones Act for Puerto Rico, Easing Hurricane Aid Shipments. September 28, 2017. New York Times. September 28, 2017.
  20. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/29/us/san-juan-mayor-trump.html San Juan Mayor Rebukes Trump Administration for Rosy Comments on Relief Effort
  21. http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/29/white-house-puerto-rico-response-trump-carmen-yulin-cruz-243294 San Juan mayor hits back at Elaine Duke: ‘This is not a good-news story. This is a people-are-dying story.’
  22. http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/29/politics/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-san-juan-mayor-trump-response/index.html San Juan mayor: 'Dammit, this is not a good news story'
  23. Web site: DHS's Duke explains 'good news story' quote. Tal Kopan. CNN. September 29, 2017.
  24. News: Shear. Michael D.. 2020-07-10. Leading Homeland Security Under a President Who Embraces 'Hate-Filled' Talk. en-US. The New York Times. 2020-07-13. 0362-4331.
  25. Web site: Devan Cole. New York Times: Trump considered selling Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, former acting Homeland Security chief says. 2020-07-13. CNN. July 12, 2020 .
  26. Web site: [Senate Hearing 110-946]]. U.S. Government Printing Office . I have with me here today my husband, Harold Hanson, and my son, Jason. My older son, Brian, is not able to be with us, but all three of them have been so supportive throughout my career and I thank them this morning..