Bull Moose made the suggestion and I agree. Since Brown is gone, it’s unclear who will take his place, but an August 1st Washington Post article suggests Patrick Rohde was being groomed.
Mr. Rhode’s experience with disasters
Before joining FEMA, Mr. Rhode was associate administrator at the U.S. Small Business Administration and White House liaison for the Department of Commerce. His first position with the Bush Administration was as special assistant to the President and deputy director of National Advance Operations, a position he assumed in January 2001.
Previously, Mr. Rhode served as deputy director of National Advance Operations for the George W. Bush Presidential Campaign, in Austin, Texas. His other professional credits include serving in communications and public affairs roles in the Texas Department of Agriculture, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, and Entergy Corporation. Earlier in his career, Mr. Rhode was an anchor/reporter with network affiliated television stations in Alabama and Arkansas.
Let’s hope some priorities are revisited in terms of who should be leading FEMA
My Illinois readers should feel only partially comforted that the Regional Director is actually an emergency management professional because he’s actually holding down two positions. They guy for Missouri is a career fire fighter and at least decently prepared for his spot.
UPDATE: They went with a professional—give credit to the Trib’s article that explored the background of several FEMA higher ups for getting an actual professional in there.