To date, space floor sales are outpacing last year with some 900 companies expected to participate in the upcoming ISC West Exhibition April 5-7, 2006 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center.
"Ridge was one of the pivotal players in the months post 9/11," said Dean Russo, Industry Vice President, ISC Expo events. "And his tenure as Secretary of the then newly formed Department of Homeland Security, set the stage for the new agency. Having him keynote at ISC West will be a highlight for the security industry in general and ISC West participants in particular, as the issue of security became engrained into the country's mindset during the inaugural appointment of a Director of Homeland Security. There is no one better to discuss the issues that surround the security industry today than Ridge. We are thrilled to be able to bring him to the ISC West Industry Summit."
On January 24, 2003, Tom Ridge was sworn in as the first Secretary of the newly formed Department of Homeland Security. The department was the largest government reorganization in
over 50 years and combined 22 federal agencies with over 170,000 employees. Mr. Ridge served in the position until February 1, 2005.
Prior to being Secretary of Homeland Security, Mr. Ridge served as the first Office of Homeland Security Advisor in the history of the United States of America. He was sworn into that
office on October 8, 2001. In the words of President George W. Bush, he had the strength, experience, personal commitment and authority to accomplish this critical mission.
The President established the Office of Homeland Security and the Homeland Security Council, following the tragic events of September 11. His charge to the nation's new director of
homeland defense was to develop and coordinate a comprehensive national strategy to strengthen protections against terrorist threats or attacks in the United States.
Ridge was twice elected Governor of Pennsylvania, serving from 1995 to 2001. He kept his promise to make Pennsylvania "a leader among states and a competitor among nations."