As deputy secretary for public safety, Balboni was Gov. Paterson's homeland security chief. He was responsible for overseeing the New York's efforts to prevent terrorism and coordinating the state's response to any incidents that did occur.

A Long Island native, Balboni attended Adelphi University and St. John's Law School, but he got his big break in politics as a member of the New York State Senate. A member of the Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs committee, Balboni also had the reputation for his ability to mobilize efforts across party lines, which led to rumors of his running for Attorney General. However, he left his decade-long post on the state senate for the deputy secretary for public safety position in 2007. With the State Police, Department of Corrections, Division of Criminal Justice Services, the Division of Parole, and Office of Homeland Security under his watchful eye, Balboni acted primarily as a liaison to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Yet Balboni didn't last very long, and after two years he moved to the private sector. He's since held positions with the consulting firms Navigators Global and Cardinal Point Strategies. [Image via Getty, with Michael Chertoff]