Former U.S. homeland security secretary starts consultancy

Former U.S. homeland security secretary starts consultancy Tom Ridge, former homeland security secretary and two-term governor of Pennsylvania, announced this week the startup of his own consulting firm.
   Ridge Global LLC, based in Washington, offers a range of services for both countries and companies, including business strategy, global trade security, risk assessment and contingency planning, crisis management and communications, change management, special event security, and technology innovation and integration.
   Senior members of the company include Barry McCaffrey, international security and terrorism expert; Thomas Collins, former Coast Guard commandant; Howard Schmidt, former Internet crime advisor to President Bush; and Jim Gordorn, former homeland security advisor.
   Ridge Global is already working with Albania to help the country meet its goal to join NATO by 2008. The company also provides Deloitte & Touche USA counsel on issues, challenges and trends facing today's states and governors.
   Ridge became the country's first homeland security secretary in early 2003, following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. He resigned from the Bush Administration in early 2005.