R. David Paulison
David Paulison | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Administrator of theFederal Emergency Management Agency | |
| In office September 12, 2005 – January 21, 2009 Acting: September 12, 2005 – June 8, 2006 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Michael D. Brown |
| Succeeded by | Nancy L. Ward(acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 27, 1947 Miami,Florida,U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Florida Atlantic University(BA) |
| Firefighter career | |
| Department |  Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department |
| Service years | 1963-1993 |
Robert David Paulison(born February 27, 1947)[1]is an American formerfire chiefwho served as the director of theFederal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA). Paulison was appointed byPresidentGeorge W. Bushon September 12, 2005, to replace the embattledMichael D. Brown,who resigned amid controversy over his handling of disaster relief in the aftermath ofHurricane Katrina.Prior to his appointment, Paulison was perhaps best known nationally for his 2003advisoryregarding household items (including duct tape and plastic sheeting) to have on hand in case of terrorist attack. At the 2009 National Hurricane Conference, he announced he would resign January 21, 2009.[citation needed]
Biography
[edit]Paulison was born in 1947 inMiami,Florida.He attendedNorth Miami Senior High Schooland earned hisbachelor's degreefromFlorida Atlantic University,and later completed a program atJohn F. Kennedy School of GovernmentatHarvard Universityfor government service executives.[citation needed]After beginning his career as afirefighter,Paulison rose through the ranks, and became fire chief of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue in 1992. He was subsequently named fire chief of the year for Florida in 1993, and has thirty years of experience as a firefighter. In addition, he was also president of theInternational Association of Fire Chiefs.[citation needed]
During his time as a firefighter, Paulison was responsible for the cleanup afterHurricane Andrewin 1992 and after thecrash of ValuJet Flight 592over theEvergladesin 1996.[2]
On September 20, 2001, President George W. Bush announced that he would appoint Paulison (aDemocrat) as the head of theUnited States Fire Administration,now a division of theDepartment of Homeland Security(DHS) and the Directorate of Preparedness. The nomination was sent to theU.S. Senateon October 16, 2001. Paulison was confirmed unanimously on November 30, 2001.
It was not in this role, rather he had also been made Director of FEMA's Preparedness Division, that Paulison released anadvisoryon February 10, 2003, recommending households keep several common items on hand in case of a biological, chemical or radiological terrorist attack. Among these: three days' worth of water and food, emergency supplies, and plastic sheeting andduct tapeto seal windows and doors.[3]The latter led to a much-publicized rush on hardware stores. This overshadowed another of the advisory's statements (one that unknowingly predicted conditions in theGulf Coast19 months later): in an emergency, most people "are going to be on their own for possibly 48 to 72 hours."[4]
Later in 2003, Bush appointed Paulison director of the newly created National Preparedness Division of the Emergency Preparedness & Response Directorate. This distinctly DHS Directorate, was later made a part of FEMA again almost two years after Paulison became FEMA's acting "chief", Department of Homeland Security.[2]
In April 2006, Acting FEMA Director and U.S. Fire Administrator Paulison was nominated to become the first DHS Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management in charge of FEMA.[2]Later, in May 2006, Paulison was unanimously confirmed and sworn in on June 8, 2006, as the first Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management.
In April 2008The Miami Heraldhad reported that Paulison was considering resigning, which was repudiated by the Under Secretary while testifying before theSenate Homeland Security Committee.[citation needed]Paulison noted that the newspaper had "misunderstood his statements", and that he was instead attempting to get the agency prepared for the incomingObama administrationappointee.[5]
On January 21, 2009, Paulison announced his resignation.[6][7]
Sources at theMiami Heraldnoted that rumors had been swirling that he was "tired" and "disillusioned" and would resign soon but that the White House was pressuring him to stay on. When asked by reporters if he would consider staying on at the request of the new president and he responded: "probably not."[7]
Paulison selectedNancy L. Ward,currently a FEMA regional director[8](for region IX, which servesArizona,California,Guam,Hawaii,Nevada,Northern Mariana Islands,Marshall Islands,Federated States of MicronesiaandAmerican Samoa), to be interim director after his resignation took effect.[citation needed]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^date & year of birth according to LCNAFCIPdata
- ^abcBush Nominates New FEMA Director– CBS News, April 6, 2006
- ^Duct tape sales rise amid terror fears–CNN,February 11, 2003
- ^Survival planning starts at home–USA Today,February 11, 2003
- ^"Paulison denies media reports of resignation - Washington Times".The Washington Times.Archived fromthe originalon October 13, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 23,2009.
- ^"FEMA: R. David Paulison Announces Departure".Archived fromthe originalon February 1, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 23,2009.
- ^ab"FEMA director Paulison to resign before end of administration - OhMyGov News".Archived fromthe originalon July 15, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 23,2009.
- ^"FEMA: Nancy Ward Named Director Of FEMA's Region IX".fema.gov.Archived fromthe originalon October 13, 2006.
External links
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