Gov. Asa Hutchinson was appointed chairman of the National Governors Association’s Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee this week.
The Republican governor served as undersecretary for border and transportation security in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush.
“Seeing to the security of our homeland and the public safety of our citizens is of the utmost importance, especially in light of the recent tragedies and divisions challenging our world,” Hutchinson said in a written statement.
“I trust that my experience as the first undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will be a valuable contribution as I serve as chair of this committee,” the governor said. “I am eager to continue working with a team committed to influencing federal legislation, particularly laws that affect the security of our states and our nation.”
The committee handles issues such as homeland defense and security; criminal justice and public safety; and veterans affairs and the National Guard, according to the governor’s office.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown was appointed vice chairman of the committee. The committee’s other members are Hawaii Gov. David Ige, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Javier Garcia Padilla, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and Virgin Islands Gov. Kenneth Mapp, according to the National Governors Association.