October 3, 2008

MEMORANDUM FOR:                     All FEMA Employees


FROM:                                                R. David Paulison
                                                            Administrator 
                                                            
SUBJECT:                                           Assistant Administrator, Gulf Coast Recovery   
                                    
I am pleased to announce the selection of James W. Stark as the new Assistant Administrator for Gulf Coast Recovery. 

Jim has served as the Acting Associate Deputy Administrator for Gulf Coast Recovery since January 2008. During this time, he also served as the Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office Director. He was appointed to this position in June 2006. In these positions, he works in partnership with State and local officials while overseeing and coordinating FEMA’s Gulf Coast recovery operations related to the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 

Before assuming this position, Jim served as Chief of Staff for the Gulf Coast Recovery Office where he helped establish the Transitional Recovery Office organization in the states impacted by the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes. 

Prior to joining FEMA in March 2006, Jim served, for 28 years, as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard in a variety of afloat and shore-side operational and staff positions. As Chief of Staff, Eighth Coast Guard District, New Orleans, LA, he managed and led Coast Guard staff and operations to ensure the critical execution of Coast Guard missions across the Gulf of Mexico and the inland waterways. In his role as Chief of Operations, Seventh Coast Guard District, Miami, FL, he directed Coast Guard search and rescue, law enforcement and homeland security missions throughout southeastern U.S. waters and the Caribbean Sea. Jim also served as Commander, Coast Guard Group, Mobile, AL.   As Chief, Drug Interdiction Division in Coast Guard Headquarters, he participated in ground breaking negotiations with Caribbean nations to develop cooperative international agreements aimed at curbing maritime drug smuggling. 

During the initial response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, he was employed by a marine salvage company; directing ship and barge salvage operations in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. 

Jim earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ocean Science for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, holds a Master of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary, and is a graduate of the National War College. A Gulf Coast resident of over 10 years, he lives in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans with his wife, Elaine and four children.