Posted by Rick Mason (165.247.9.232) on September 21, 2001 at 10:47:32:
This is a message from the FEMA's US Fire Administration.
Contact: Release No.: 01-204
Office of Public Affairs Release Date: September 20, 2001
(202) 646-4600
PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES INTENT TO NOMINATE U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATOR
WASHINGTON - The White House announced today that President Bush intends to nominate R. David Paulison of Miami as the head of the U.S.
Fire Administration (USFA). Paulison, 54, is chief of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department and past president of the International
Association of Fire Chiefs. USFA is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Paulison's nomination will go to the U.S.
Senate for confirmation.
As the U.S. Fire Administrator, Paulison will join Ken Burris, USFA Chief Operating Officer, in leading a key agency supporting state
and local fire service programs. Paulison will be responsible for implementing FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh's initiatives for emergency
readiness, as well as firefighter training and equipment.
"I am pleased that the President has nominated an individual with such outstanding experience to join the team to assist the fire
services," said Allbaugh. "Chief Paulison, with his long experience in fire and emergency services management, will join us at a
critical time in the history of the American fire services, given the events of September 11."
"I look forward to working with him and his staff to develop a partnership with the emergency management community and to enhance fire
service support and training in many areas to include terrorism response and preparedness," Allbaugh said. "I also want to thank Ken
Burris, who has ably led the USFA. I will continue to count on his counsel as we move forward with recovery from the terrorist attacks
of September 11."
Paulison, who has 30 years of fire rescue service experience, has been fire chief in Miami-Dade since 1992. In the position, he oversaw
1,900 personnel with a $200 million operating budget and a $70 million capital budget. He also oversaw the county's emergency management
office.
He began his career as a rescue firefighter and rose through the ranks to rescue lieutenant, battalion commander, district chief of
operations, division chief, assistant chief and then deputy director for administration before becoming chief. His emergency management
experience includes Hurricane Andrew and the crash of ValuJet Flight 592.
A native of Miami, Paulison earned a bachelor of arts from Florida Atlantic University and completed the Program for Senior Executives
in State and Local Government at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Paulison was selected as fire chief of the
year by Florida in 1993 and holds positions in several professional associations. He is a certified paramedic and member of the
Miami-Date Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.
The mission of the U.S. Fire Administration is to reduce life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies through public
education, training, technology and data research initiatives in coordination with other federal agencies and in partnership with fire
protection and emergency service communities.
Since 1975, more than 1.4 million students have received training through a variety of courses at the National Fire Academy, a part of
the USFA. Countless lives have been saved and property losses prevented as a direct result of this training and education.