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President-elect Barack Obama has nominated Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano to serve as secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). And she has accepted the offer to join his cabinet, pending Senate confirmation.

“I believe that when called upon to serve — particularly at such a critical time in the history of our country — it is my duty as a citizen to step forward and say, “Yes,’” said Napolitano in a prepared statement.

Prior to becoming Arizona’s governor in 2002, she served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona and was the state’s first female attorney general.

Current DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff believes Napolitano is an “excellent choice” as his successor.

“I have had the good fortune of knowing and working with Governor Napolitano for years, going back to our days as prosecutors,” he said in a statement. “She has a tremendous intellect and possesses the leadership and sound judgment needed to make the difficult decisions that this job presents.”