Tom Ridge, the first U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, is heading directly into the consulting and advisory business.
Ridge, the former two-term governor of Pennsylvania and a popular guest speaker at security industry tradeshows, has launched Ridge Global, an advisory business "that provides strategic and operational guidance to clients worldwide."
Undoubtedly, Ridge's background and D.C. connections gives him a leg up in the business, as do the company's hires, which were described as persons from "former high-level posts in both the government and private sector arenas". The firm will be based there in Washington, and works not only in the security area, though they do list global trade security, risk assessment and contingency planning and special event security. The company also focuses on core business operations like strategy, leadership, change management and technology innovations, and is aiding its clients navigate political waters at the state, national and international levels.
Ridge, as you might expect, wasted no time in landing core clients. In launching the business, Ridge listed among its clients the Albanian government, which is seeking assistance in pursuing NATO membership.
Though publicly launched today, Ridge Global already has attracted a diverse array of clients, including the government of Albania, which has enlisted Ridge Global to help the Adriatic democracy meet its goal to join NATO in 2008.
Ridge's firm is on the web at www.ridgeglobal.com.
