SkyDeck is excited to announce that Janet Napolitano, Professor of Policy at the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy, and founder of the Center for Security in Politics, will be joining SkyDeck as an Advisor. 

In her distinguished career, Napolitano has served as the US Attorney for the District of Arizona from 1993 to 1997, as Attorney General of Arizona from 1998 to 2003, as Governor of Arizona from 2003 to 2009, as the US Secretary of Homeland Security from 2009 to 2013, and most recently as the President of the University of California from 2013 to 2020. Napolitano is the recipient of nine honorary degrees as well as the Jefferson Medal from the University of Virginia, that University’s highest honor. In 2015, Napolitano was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She serves on the Council of the American Law Institute and is a board member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Over the past years, SkyDeck has seen substantial growth in CivicTech companies, and we believe that Napolitano’s expertise and the work she is spearheading at her Center for Security in Politics will provide value for startups in this area. Napolitano states, “UC Berkeley has always been seen as one of the universities where change starts. As part of the university, SkyDeck has been on the same mission and a home to a growing number of talented startups. As an Advisor here, I hope to help startups focused on fostering the growth and preservation of democracy.”

SkyDeck is honored to bring such a distinguished public servant with an extraordinary career and depth of experience to our SkyAdvisor group.