Fortinet Names Former AZ Governor to Board

Global cybersecurity provider Fortinet added Janet Napolitano as a director. This addition brings further national security and public policy expertise to its board.

Napolitano’s nomination builds on Fortinet’s ongoing commitment to advancing cybersecurity for society at large, through product development principles and strategic partnerships. She will work to help advance Fortinet’s public and private sector initiatives, advise ongoing efforts related to CISA’s Secure by Design pledge and strengthen collaboration with key government stakeholders across the Five Eyes community, NATO and INTERPOL.

“We’re pleased to welcome Janet Napolitano to our esteemed board of directors,” said Ken Xie, the founder, chairman and CEO of Fortinet. “Janet’s contributions to national security and public policy will be invaluable as we continue deepening our focus on strategic, collaborative efforts to reduce cyber risks on a global scale. Janet’s commitment to safeguarding our nation as a former leader of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will help Fortinet further our mission to secure people, devices and data everywhere.”

“Fortinet has stood at the forefront of the cybersecurity landscape for over two decades, playing a pivotal role in its evolution,” added Napolitano. “It is with great anticipation that I lend my experience and perspectives to support the company as it strengthens its commitment to secure-by-design principles and deepens its collaboration with government institutions and across critical infrastructure sectors to advance global cybersecurity resilience. I look forward to contributing to Fortinet’s noble mission of fostering a safer and more secure digital world for all.”

Napolitano is a distinguished public servant and a renowned leader. After a significant legal career, she served as the governor of Arizona (2003–2009) and Secretary of Homeland Security (2009–2013), where she led efforts to protect the U.S. from terrorist attacks, respond to natural disasters and build domestic resiliency. She later transitioned to the education sector, serving as the president of the University of California (2013-2020) and currently serves as the founder and faculty director for the Center for Security in Politics at UC Berkeley, as well as a professor of public policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley.

She also holds board positions across various industries, contributing her expertise and leadership to diverse organizations. She currently serves on the boards of directors for Vir Biotechnology and Zoom, as well as on the board of trustees at RAND Corporation.