Thomas Joseph Ridge (26 August 1945-) was a member of the US House of Representatives (R-PA 21) from 3 January 1983 to 3 January 1995 (succeeding Donald Bailey and preceding Phil English), Governor of Pennsylvania from 17 January 1995 to 5 October 2001 (succeeding Bob Casey Sr. and preceding Mark Schweiker), United States Homeland Security Advisor from 20 September 2001 to 24 January 2003 (preceding John A. Gordon), and Secretary of Homeland Security from 24 January 2003 to 1 February 2005 (preceding Michael Chertoff).
Biography[]
Thomas Joseph Ridge was born in Munhall, Pennsylvania in 1945, and he was raised in veterans' public housing in Erie. He served in the US Army during the Vietnam War and was awarded the Bronze Star, and he went on to practice law in Erie before serving in the US House of Representatives from 1983 to 1995. In 1994, he was elected Governor, overseeing improvements in economic development, education, healthcare, and the environment. Following the 9/11 attacks, Ridge served as President George W. Bush's Homeland Security Advisor and as the first Secretary of Homeland Security from 2003 to 2005, when he retired and returned to the private sector. He campaigned for John McCain during the 2008 presidential election, and he was on McCain's short list of potential running mates.