FEMA Announces New Response & Recovery Division Director
Release Date: November 3, 2003
Release Number: R10-04-26
Seattle, WA -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security FEMA Regional Director John Pennington today named Harry Kieling to head the FEMA Region 10 Response and Recovery Division. According to Pennington, the appointment brings closure to months of applications and interviews.
"Harry has extensive and impressive experience developing citizen preparedness programs, risk communications and disaster response systems, and embodies the precise mix of experience and leadership I've been searching for to lead our R&R division," said Pennington. "His broad knowledge and experience in management and operations will help FEMA Region 10 better meet its needs into the future as we continue integration into the Department of Homeland Security."
"I am honored to be selected for this position," said Kieling, during the swearing-in ceremony. "With FEMA's role in Homeland Security still evolving, this is a very exciting time to be in on the ground floor of something so important to our country."
Born in Flagstaff, Arizona, Kieling earned a Bachelor's Degree in English from the University of Arizona and a Master's in Public Administration from Troy State University in Troy, Alabama. A retired Air Force Colonel, Kieling is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Royal Air Force Air Warfare Course; and attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.
Kieling comes to FEMA from Anchorage, Alaska, where as City Manager he supervised a workforce of 2,900, supporting a population of 262,000 with an annual budget of $283 million.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Monday, 03-Nov-2003 12:49:12