By Kathy Groob, Publisher ElectWomen Magazine

When there’s conflict in the world or security threats on the domestic front, The United States turns to three women appointed by President Barack Obama to head the nation’s most critical and visible departments.  These women have been thrust into the limelight on a number of important topics in the few short months since taking office. 

The top appointment of Secretary of State went to Hillary Clinton.  The former first lady and senator from New York and presidential candidate has taken several trips abroad and is tackling a number of hot spots around the world including North Korea and Iran. The Secretary of State is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department and the Foreign Service of the United States. On January 21, 2009, Hillary Rodham Clinton was sworn in as the 67th Secretary of State of the United States.

Another top foreign affairs appointment and cabinet-level position went to Susan E. Rice, Ambassador to the United Nations.  Ms. Rice is the first African-American woman appointed as U.N. Ambassador.  She was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute from 2002 to 2009 a non-profit public policy organization that provides research and recommendations on a variety of national and domestic issues.  As ambassador, Susan Rice serves as the leader of the United States delegation to the United Nations. 

The new cabinet secretary of the Department of Homeland Security is Janet Napolitano.  Serving as the third secretary of Homeland Security, Ms. Napolitano was sworn in during January 2009 to advance security within the borders of the Untied States.  Prior to accepting the post, Ms. Napolitano served as the governor of Arizona and was also a U.S. Attorney for Arizona.  As U.S. Attorney, she helped lead the domestic terrorism investigation into the Oklahoma City Bombing. As governor, she implemented one of the first state homeland security strategies in the nation, opened the first state counter-terrorism center and spearheaded efforts to transform immigration enforcement.