Story highlights Nielsen has worked as Kelly's chief of staff at the Department of Homeland SecurityWashington (CNN) Kirstjen Nielsen, John Kelly's principal deputy chief of staff, will be nominated to be the new secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, the White House announced Wednesday. In a statement released Wednesday night, the administration praised Nielsen for her "extensive professional experience" in homeland security policy, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure and emergency management. "She is the first nominee for this position to have previously worked within the Department of Homeland Security, having served there in two administrations, first as senior legislative policy director for Transportation and Security Administration under President George W. Bush and then as Department of Homeland Security Chief of Staff under President Trump," the statement added. The Department of Homeland Security was created in the wake of the terror attacks on September 11, 2001. Tom Ridge, the department's the first secretary, praised Nielsen's nomination.

Source: CNN October 11, 2017 17:58 UTC