Christie taps new chief of N.J. Homeland Security

Gov. Chris Christie has selected a 25-year veteran of the FBI to be New Jersey’s new chief of security.

Ed Dickson, who has 30 years of experience in law enforcement and corporate security, will leave his current job as director of investigations at the Depository Trust and Clearance Corporation to become director of the New Jersey State Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.

“I’m looking forward to this assignment and moving this program forward and making it even a better program for people here in the state of New Jersey, our private sector, and our law enforcement partners,” he said.

Dickson was appointed agent in charge of the FBI’s Newark office in 2001 when Christie was the state’s U.S. attorney. Christie, who said they had a close working relationship after the 9/11 attacks, Thursday praised Dickson’s work ethic and commitment to the state’s security.

The position opened after Charles McKenna left the director’s job to become Christie’s chief counsel, replacing Jeff Chiesa, now the state’s attorney general.