People in the news

Ivan K. Fong

General Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security (since May 2009)

(DHS.gov)

Why He Matters

Fong came to law with an unusual background - by the time he enrolled in Stanford Law School, he had already earned a master's degree in chemical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The former Clinton administration official has always had a passion for combining scientific analysis and public policy. At the Clinton Justice Department, Fong focused on cybersecurity and Internet crime. In the private sector, he worked for General Electric and as general counsel for Cardinal Health, one of the largest producers of medical equipment in the world.

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: Chief Legal Officer and Secretary, Cardinal Health (2005 to 2009); SVP & General Counsel, GE Vendor Financial Services (2004 to 2005); Chief Privacy Leader and Senior Counsel, General Electric (2000 to 2003); Deputy Associate Attorney General, Justice Department (1997 to 2000)
Alma Mater: MIT, B.S., 1983; MIT, M.S., 1984; Stanford Law School, J.D., 1987; Oxford, B.C.L., 1988

Spouse: Sharon
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Path to Power

Fong attended MIT, where he earned a B.S. and a master's in chemical engineering. He originally planned to get a Ph.D. and/or become an engineer after graduation, but a stint with the school newspaper and an internship in Washington turned him into a public policy wonk. "At the time, many people were concerned that the U.S. was producing too many lawyers and not enough engineers," Fong told Chemical Engineering Progress in 2002. "But I responded that I thought there were not enough lawyers with strong scientific or technical backgrounds."

In 1984, Fong moved to California, earning his J.D at Stanford Law School, where he was eventually named president of the law review. He chose the school in part because of its proximity to Silicon Valley. After graduating in 1987, Fong won a Fulbright Scholarship and studied at Oxford University. In 1988, he clerked for Judge Abner J. Mikva of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The next year, he clerked for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

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The Issues

As general counsel, Fong will supervise 1,700 lawyers. He will be responsible for communicating a clear vision to his staff, advising the secretary, and analyzing the legality of policies. He will also be responsible for making sure his staff (which includes lawyers from Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, FEMA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Secret Service, and TSA) is well-integrated and able to work together effectively.

Fong said addressing security (and cybersecurity) issues, violence on the Mexican border, and the H1N1 flu virus were among the department's top priorities in early 2009. He also emphasized the importance of balancing national security and privacy. "I share Secretary Napolitano's commitment to protecting our security while also protecting the civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy rights of all Americans," he said at his 2009 confirmation hearing.

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The Network

At DHS, Fong will work closely with Secretary Janet Napolitano, Deputy Secretary Jane Lute and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate .

At the Clinton Justice Department, Fong likely rubbed shoulders with former Attorney General Janet Reno and then-Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder , who is attorney general under President Barack Obama .

Additional Resources