Critics viewed the lack of White House support as retribution for Ervin's aggressive efforts to root out waste, fraud, and incompetence.

"[2] In May 2006, Ervin published a book -- Open Target: Where America is Vulnerable to Attack—that gives details of his tenure at the DHS as well as his views on the current lack of preparedness for new terrorist attacks.

He returned to his native Houston in 1991 to run for the 29th Congressional district seat, winning the Republican nomination but losing the general election.

Between college and law school, Ervin studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, earning a master's degree in 1982.

The brother suggested the name on his day of birth after noting the fact that he was born a month premature and his desire to survive amidst all odds.