GSA # 10444

January 24, 2008

Contact: Mike Collins, (202) 501- 1231
michael.collins@gsa.gov                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

WASHINGTON – The U.S. General Services Administration announced today its Office of Emergency Response and Recovery will be temporarily headed by the agency’s Chief of Staff while its emergency chief is detailed to the White House.

John Phelps, chief of staff to Administrator Lurita Doan, will serve as Acting Director of the GSA’s Office of Emergency Response and Recovery (OERR)and will perform both roles during the one year detail of the agency’s Chief Emergency Response and Recovery Officer, Richard Reed.

“We are pleased to have such depth of talent here at GSA,” said Administrator Doan.  “John’s work on homeland security and previous experience as Acting OERR director makes him a natural to lead the office during Richard’s assignment.”

Mr. Reed, a nationally recognized emergency management expert is temporarily serving as the Special Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Senior Director for Continuity Policy Council.

GSA’s Office of Emergency Response and Recovery promotes planning and coordination of disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery against natural or man-made incidents. As Chief of Staff, Mr. Phelps guides the agency’s continuity of operations planning and emergency response efforts.  Mr. Phelps also served as OERR’s acting director prior to Mr. Reed’s arrival in May 2007. Additionally, prior to his arrival at GSA, Mr. Phelps served as Chief Operating Officer of the Grand Canyon Chapter of the American Red Cross, where he was responsible for operations of the sixth-largest American Red Cross chapter in the United States.  He also was the Deputy Director of the Arizona Office of Homeland Security and led the creation of systems and processes within
that office to provide more effective and efficient support to hundreds of first responder organizations.

For more information about GSA emergency response and recovery efforts, visit gsa.gov.

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Founded in 1949, GSA serves as a centralized procurement and property management agency for the federal government.  GSA manages more than one-fourth of the government’s total procurement dollars and influences the management of $500 billion in federal assets, including 8,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 205,000 vehicles.  GSA helps preserve our past and define our future, as a steward of more than 425 historic properties, and as manager of USA.gov, the official portal to federal government information and services. GSA’s mission to provide superior workplaces, expert technology solutions, acquisition services, purchasing and eGov travel solutions and management policies, at best value, allows federal agencies to focus on their core missions.

Did You Know? GSA’s Disaster and Emergency Operations Vendor Profile form puts small businesses on the government’s radar so they do not miss out on federal contract opportunities in a time of disaster.  More than 1,500 small businesses have used the online form to identify themselves.