Recent buzz about President-elect Barack Obama’s potential cabinet choices could shed some light on the direction the Department of Homeland Security is headed. For weeks, pundits have listed what they see as necessary bullet points on the resume of the department’s next secretary. Opinions ranged from broad communication, leadership, and management skills to direct experience with counterterrorism, immigration, and disaster management.

Now, it looks as if the resume is finally in.

News agencies, including The Washington Post and The New York Times, reported Thursday that Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano was the likely pick to lead the controversial department. Napolitano, who has served as a federal prosecutor and state attorney general, has dealt with homeland security issues in her role with the National Governors’ Association. She also has extensive experience with U.S.-Mexico border security.

The question is, will that experience be enough to help her overcome the numerous agency obstacles, which include turf battles, management crises, continuous departmental reorganization, and many other well-publicized woes. Along with donning the prickly mantle of one of the most complex government agencies in history, the next secretary will still need to protect the nation from terrorist attacks, respond to disasters, and secure the nation’s borders. If Napolitano is officially nominated and confirmed, she’ll have to meet high expectations and overcome many challenges—including where to take the agency next.

On the campaign trail, Obama was less than talkative about how he would revamp DHS, although he alluded to several steps he would take. Those included five priorities: effective preparedness using comprehensive emergency response plans, increased support for first responders, improved interoperable communications, federal cooperation with state, local, and tribal governments and the private sector, and risk-based fund distribution.

Some initial information gathering on how to best proceed is already under way. A department policy review has been launched and a long-term planning study is due in December. Until those results are in and a firm nomination is in place, DHS watchers will have to wait, see, and keep speculating.

Luckily they have lots of company—see the Web resources section below for a selection of online punditry and advice compiled about the presidential transition. And don’t miss Alexandra Jordan’s upcoming article in the January 2009 Natural Hazards Observer that looks at Obama’s take on security, preparedness, and climate change.