FEMA Announces New Members for National Advisory Council
Release Date: June 20, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-117
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator David Paulison today announced his annual appointments to FEMA's National Advisory Council (NAC).
The NAC advises the Administrator of FEMA on all aspects of preparedness and emergency management in an effort to ensure close coordination with its partners across the country.
"NAC members contribute their wide range of knowledge and expertise to helping make their neighbors, communities and our entire nation stronger and better prepared to respond to any disaster," said Administrator Paulison. "FEMA has already benefited from their input. I look forward to working with its new members and wish to thank the departing members for their service."
Appointed in 2008 by Administrator Paulison as new members serving a three year term are:
CATEGORY: DISABILITIES
- John Lancaster (DC) - Executive Director of National Council on Independent Living.
CATEGORY: ELECTED TRIBAL OFFICIAL
- John Stensgar (WA) - Business Council Member of the Colville Confederated Tribes.
CATEGORY: EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
- Kenneth Murphy (OR) - Director of Oregon Emergency Management & President of the National Emergency Management Association.
CATEGORY: ADMINISTRATOR'S SELECTION
- Suzanne Mencer (CO) - Policy Director for Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber and Schreck, LLP.
- Lee Feldman (FL) - City Manager of City of Palm Bay Florida.
Reappointed to their current positions for a three year term are:
CATEGORY: EMERGENCY RESPONSE
- Stephen Cassidy (NY) - President of the Uniformed Firefighters Assoc. of Greater New York.
CATEGORY: HEALTH SCIENTIST
- Dr. Kenneth Miller (CA) - Medical Director of the Orange County Fire Authority.
CATEGORY: STANDARDS SETTING
- Robert Connors (MA) - Director of Preparedness for Raytheon Company.
CATEGORY: INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION
- Ann Beauchesne (DC) - Executive Director (Homeland Security Division) of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
CATEGORY: COMMUNICATIONS
- David Barron (DC) - Assistant Vice President (Retired) for Federal Relations/National Security at the BellSouth (ATT) Corporation.
CATEGORY: ADMINISTRATOR'S SELECTION
- Susanne Torriente (FL) - Chief of Staff and Assistant County Manager for Public Safety, Information and Technology, for Miami-Dade County.
- Russell Decker (OH) -First Vice President of the International Association of Emergency Managers.
For the Full Membership of the NAC see www.fema.gov/about/nac.
The NAC was established under the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006. Members are appointed by the Administrator, represent a geographic and significant cross section of officials from emergency management and law enforcement, and include homeland security directors, adjutants general, emergency response providers from tribal, state and local governments, private sector, and nongovernmental organizations. The initial membership of the NAC was announced in June 2007. To create a staggered term of membership, one third of the initial membership was appointed to a one year term, another third was appointed to a two year term and the final third to a three year term.
In its first full year, the NAC has provided input to FEMA on the National Response Framework (NRF), FEMA's Strategic Plan and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). Additionally the council formed permanent subcommittees on both NIMS and the NRF, and four ad-hoc subcommittees to focus on: Special Needs; Private Sector Partnerships; the Stafford Act; and Post-Disaster Housing.
The Council currently holds quarterly meetings each year. The next meeting is scheduled for August 13-14, 2008 in Washington, DC. Executive summaries from previous meetings can be found on the NAC Website at www.fema.gov/about/nac.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Friday, 20-Jun-2008 15:48:40