R. David Paulison

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David Paulison
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
In office
September 12, 2005 – January 21, 2009
Acting: September 12, 2005 – June 8, 2006
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byMichael D. Brown
Succeeded byNancy L. Ward (acting)
Personal details
Born (1947-02-27) February 27, 1947 (age 77)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationFlorida Atlantic University (BA)
Firefighter career
Department Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department
Service years1963-1993

Robert David Paulison (born February 27, 1947)

advisory regarding 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

Paulison was born in 1947 in

John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University for government service executives.[citation needed] After beginning his career as a firefighter, 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 the International Association of Fire Chiefs.[citation needed
]

During his time as a firefighter, Paulison was responsible for the cleanup after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and after the crash of ValuJet Flight 592 over the Everglades in 1996.[2]

On September 20, 2001, President George W. Bush announced that he would appoint Paulison (a

U.S. Senate
on 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 an

Gulf Coast 19 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 2008

The Miami Herald had reported that Paulison was considering resigning, which was repudiated by the Under Secretary while testifying before the Senate 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 incoming Obama administration appointee.[5]

On January 21, 2009, Paulison announced his resignation.[6][7]

Sources at the Miami Herald noted 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 selected Nancy L. Ward, currently a FEMA regional director[8] (for region IX, which serves Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Northern Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and American Samoa), to be interim director after his resignation took effect.[citation needed]

See also

  • List of U.S. political appointments that crossed party lines

References

  1. ^ date & year of birth according to LCNAF CIP data
  2. ^ a b c Bush Nominates New FEMA Director – CBS News, April 6, 2006
  3. ^ Duct tape sales rise amid terror fears – CNN, February 11, 2003
  4. ^ Survival planning starts at home – USA Today, February 11, 2003
  5. ^ "Paulison denies media reports of resignation - Washington Times". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
  6. ^ "FEMA: R. David Paulison Announces Departure". Archived from the original on February 1, 2009. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
  7. ^ a b "FEMA director Paulison to resign before end of administration - OhMyGov News". Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
  8. ^ "FEMA: Nancy Ward Named Director Of FEMA's Region IX". www.fema.gov. Archived from the original on October 13, 2006.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
2005–2009
Acting: 2005–2006 		Succeeded by
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