Elaine Duke (nee Costanzo) has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security by a vote of 86-14 naming her second-in-command at DHS. Prior to the vote, Senator Rob Portman delivered an opening statement on behalf of the North Olmsted High School and Kent State University alumnus. Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown joined lawmakers who voted in favor of the former department Undersecretary of Management. She served as undersecretary to both President George W. Bush and President Obama.

As Undersecretary of Management, Duke managed the department’s $47 billion budget.

Elaine is the daughter of Francesco (Frank) Costanzo and the late Concetta Scherma. The Costanzo family roots trace to Coreno Aus Onio in the Lazio region of Italy. Her maternal grandparents (Scherma) immigrated from Aidone, Sicily.

The newly appointed Deputy Secretary will attend a wedding in Italy in July and plans also to visit the homestead of her maternal grandparents in Aidone and Corleone, Sicily.

Elaine’s husband is Harold Hanson, a 2006 retiree from civil service (Navy).