Napolitano participated in a stakeholder meeting with top Silicon Valley executives and a faculty/student roundtable discussion before heading into a town hall meeting open to the public (Robert Bain photo).
By Pat Lopes Harris, Media Relations Director
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano visited SJSU April 16 as part of her college tour focusing on cyber security and the need to build a “world-class, strong and dependable pipeline” of young professionals prepared to make “a positive impact on the country.” Napolitano participated in a stakeholder meeting with top Silicon Valley executives and a faculty/student roundtable discussion before heading into a town hall meeting open to the public. At the town hall, Napolitano noted people tend to focus on “terrorism creeping across our borders, but what is growing the most of all is threats to our cyber domain.” She described cyber security as a “multidisciplinary pursuit” for policy makers and scientists, providing opportunities for college graduates in many disciplines. She also observed the “current threat outpaces the current amalgam of laws” that “does not respect or reflect the kind of movement that is needed in our global environment,” especially with respect to drawing on “international students who possess a vital skill set.” Napolitano encouraged students to consider attending the California Cyber Challenge Summer Camp, to be held in August at SJSU.