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Tracking down terrorists: Buchanan, 39, joined the war against terrorism when hijacked American Airlines 93 crashed into a field in western Pennsylvania -- her jurisdiction -- on September 11. Since then, she's pursued leads with law enforcement organizations here and abroad. "We've apprehended individuals across the globe associated with terrorist groups that pose a significant threat to America's safety," she says.
The long road to success: Buchanan was a single mom before she married attorney Thomas Buchanan, then went to college and law school. "You have to be really organized," she says, looking back.
Save the children: Three years ago, Buchanan was instrumental in forming a task force on stopping crimes against children in her district that combined federal, state and local law enforcement resources -- the very first of its kind in the country. "We've more than doubled our successful prosecutions involving the sexual exploitation of children," she says.