Where in the world is Janet Napolitano?

• Author: Ake, David
• Position: Homeland Security News - Janet Napolitano's overseas trips

Department of Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano at the outset of her tenure signaled her intent to engage with partners overseas.

"Secretary Napolitano is committed to strengthening relationships between the United States and countries around the world, which will help keep the United States more safe and secure," said a DHS statement released before her first overseas trip.

Since that first visit to Germany in March 2009, Napolitano has been to 24 different countries, some multiple times, according to a list compiled from DHS press releases.

In the first year, the secretary traveled to Mexico (twice), Czech Republic, Canada, Kuwait, Ireland, Great Britain (twice), Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, and the United Arab Emirates.

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The following years saw trips to Japan, Nigeria, India, New Zealand, Australia and Hungary. November 2010 was a particularly busy time with one trip to Panama and Mexico, and then later in the month, a five-nation sojourn to Afghanistan, Qatar, Israel Ireland and Belgium.

A stop in Italy on a three-nation tour that included the UAE and Saudi Arabia, was canceled because of the BP oil spill.

July this year saw her visit Spain for the fifth time, with a stopover in Austria before returning to Washington, D.C. Combine these trips with a busy domestic schedule that has totaled at least 29 states, and the secretary is well traveled.

Many of the trips are characterized in press releases as opportunities to...