Tom Ridge Wikipedia. Tom Ridge. 1st United States Secretary of Homeland Security. In office. January 2. February 1, 2. 00. President. George W. Bush. Preceded by. Position established. Call Of Duty World At War Online Profile Creator Download' title='Call Of Duty World At War Online Profile Creator Download' />InformationWeek. News, analysis and research for business technology professionals, plus peertopeer knowledge sharing. Engage with our community. Succeeded by. Michael Chertoff. United States Homeland Security Advisor. In office. September 2. January 2. 4, 2. 00. President. George W. Bush. Preceded by. Position established. Succeeded by. John Gordon. Governor of Pennsylvania. Call Of Duty World At War Online Profile Creator Download' title='Call Of Duty World At War Online Profile Creator Download' />In office. January 1. October 5, 2. Lieutenant. Mark Schweiker. Preceded by. Robert Casey. Succeeded by. Mark Schweiker. Member of the U. S. House of Representativesfrom Pennsylvanias 2. In office. January 3, 1. January 3, 1. 99. Preceded by. Donald Bailey. Succeeded by. Phil English. Get the latest health news, diet fitness information, medical research, health care trends and health issues that affect you and your family on ABCNews. Personal details. Born. Thomas Joseph Ridge1. August 2. 6, 1. 94. WQoIR34/sddefault.jpg' alt='Call Of Duty World At War Online Profile Creator Download' title='Call Of Duty World At War Online Profile Creator Download' />Munhall, Pennsylvania, U. App World For Blackberry 8520. S. Political party. Republican. SpousesMichele Ridge. Children. 2Education. Harvard UniversityBADickinson School of LawJDMilitary service. Allegiance United States. Servicebranch United States Army. FKofT2PoUo/hqdefault.jpg' alt='Call Of Duty World At War Online Profile Creator Download' title='Call Of Duty World At War Online Profile Creator Download' />Rank. Staff sergeant. Unit. Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2. Infantry Regiment, 1. Infantry Brigade, 2. Infantry Division. Battleswars. Vietnam War. Awards. Bronze Star with V Device. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. Thomas Joseph Ridge born August 2. American politician and author who served as the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security from 2. United States Secretary of Homeland Security from 2. Prior to this, Ridge was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1. Governor of Pennsylvania from 1. He is a member of the Republican Party. Lost Sphear, the next JRPG from the makers of I Am Setsuna, will be out on January 23, 2018, publisher Square Enix said today. Itll get a simultaneous launch on. LwqqgHLKoHI/hqdefault.jpg' alt='Call Of Duty World At War Online Profile Creator Download' title='Call Of Duty World At War Online Profile Creator Download' />Ridge was born in Munhall, Pennsylvania and raised in veterans public housing in Erie, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Harvard University with honors, Ridge served in the U. S. Army during the Vietnam War where he was awarded the Bronze Star. He then returned to Pennsylvania and completed his Juris Doctor J. D. degree at the Dickinson School of Law, graduating in 1. As Assistant District Attorney in Erie, Ridge ran for Congress in his district, where he served six terms. He then ran for Governor in 1. Pennsylvania. He won the election, and was reelected in 1. Republican governor in Pennsylvania where Democrats outnumber Republicans by almost 5. As Governor of Pennsylvania, Ridge is credited for statewide advances in economic development, education, health care and the environment. Following the September 1. U. S. President George W. Bush named Ridge the first Director of the newly created Office of Homeland Security. In January 2. 00. Office of Homeland Security became an official Cabinet level Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and Ridge became the first Secretary of Homeland Security. He served in these roles for Bushs first term as President, then retired and returned to the private sector. Since re entering the private sector, Ridge has served on the boards of The Home Depot, The Hershey Company and Exelon Corporation and as a senior advisor to Deloitte Touche, and Tech. Radium. Ridge is also the founder and CEO of Ridge Global, LLC, a Washington, D. C. based security consulting firm. Ridge spent time campaigning with Senator John Mc. Cain during his 2. Early life and educationeditRidge was born in Munhall, Pennsylvania, in Pittsburghs Steel Valley, the oldest of three children. His parents were Laura ne Sudimack and Thomas Regis Ridge, who was a traveling salesman and Navyveteran. Ridges maternal grandparents were Carpatho Rusyn immigrants4 from the former Czechoslovakia now Slovakia, and his paternal great grandparents emigrated from Great Britain. Ridge was raised in veterans public housing in Erie, Pennsylvania. Snes Usb Gamepad Driver'>Snes Usb Gamepad Driver. He was educated at St. Andrews Elementary School and Cathedral Preparatory School and did well both academically and in sports. He earned a scholarship to Harvard College, where he paid his way through with construction work, played intramural baseball and football,5 and graduated with honors in 1. In 1. 96. 8, after his first year at the Dickinson School of Law, he was drafted into the United States Army. Military serviceeditIn November 1. Ridge arrived as a sergeant in South Vietnam where he would serve for six months as a staff sergeant with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2. Infantry, 1. 1th Infantry Brigade, 2. Infantry Division Americal Division. Vietnam War. In May 1. Vietnam and he was sent home his service also aggravated a childhood ear infection which caused him afterwards to have a hearing aid in his left ear. For his service in Vietnam, Ridge received the Bronze Star with V Device, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He was later offered a commission as an officer but turned it down. After returning to Pennsylvania, he completed his Juris Doctor J. D. degree at the Dickinson School of Law, graduating in 1. Public service in PennsylvaniaeditRidge became Assistant District Attorney in Erie County, Pennsylvania in 1. In 1. 98. 2 he won a seat in Congress from northwestern Pennsylvania by the margin of only 7. Ridge was notable as the first enlisted Vietnam combat veteran elected to the U. S. House. Ridge never lost an election for public office. In 1. Pennsylvania, Ridge ran for Governor. He won the election as a pro choice. Republican. He was reelected in 1. His share of the vote in that election was the highest for a Republican governor in Pennsylvania where Democrats outnumber Republicans by almost 5. Ridge served as Governor until his resignation to become the Director of Homeland Security in 2. One of Ridges more controversial actions as governor was his nomination of Peter J. Jannetta to be the State Secretary of Health. Jannetta had previously been accused of committing perjury, with the States Superior Court stating, We have little difficulty in concluding that Dr. Jannettas testimony at deposition was different than, or inconsistent with, the testimony at trial. Jannetta was not, however, ever convicted of perjury. Jannetta served as Health Secretary for six months. During his time as governor, Ridge promoted law and order policies, supporting a three strikes law and a faster death penalty process. A death penalty supporter,1. Ridge signed more than 2. On social issues, he opposed gay marriage but is pro choice on abortion issues. Over Ridges tenure, the Commonwealths budget grew by two to three percent per fiscal year and combined tax reductions totaled over 2 billion. Ridge created and grew a Rainy Day Fund balance to over 1 billion to be utilized during an economic downturn or recession. Datacolor Spyder 3 Elite. Ridge pushed for legislation permitting competition among electric utilities and enhanced federal and state support for the Childrens Health Insurance Program CHIP. He separated the Commonwealths environmental regulatory and conservation programs into two new agencies the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Ridge proposed the creation of public charter schools in Pennsylvania and in establishing alternate schools for disruptive students.