For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
President Obama announced today his intention to nominate Craig Fugate as Administrator for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano also announced that Jason R. McNamara will serve as the Chief of Staff for FEMA.
“These announcements represent a new chapter for FEMA. Both Craig and Jason bring a tremendous amount of emergency management experience to these positions, and they are just the first of a dynamic new team that is being brought in to lead this agency. Together, we can make FEMA a vibrant agency and an effective and efficient partner for state and local first responders,” said Napolitano.
Craig Fugate
Craig Fugate was appointed the Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management in 2001. A position he has held for eight years. In that time, he has presided over 23 Declared State Emergencies, 11 of which were Presidential Declared Disasters. Fugate oversees the Division with a mandate to coordinate disaster response, recovery, preparedness and mitigation efforts with each of the state's 67 counties and local governments. From volunteer firefighter, Paramedic, to Lieutenant with Alachua County Fire Rescue, his 15 year career in local government included serving 10 years as the Emergency Manager for Alachua County, Florida.
Jason R. McNamara
Mr. McNamara serves as an Associate Vice President and Director of Emergency Management/Homeland Security in Dewberry’s Emergency Management, Disaster and Mitigation Services Group with a focus in emergency management and homeland security preparedness, planning, interagency and intergovernmental relations, and congressional relations on the local, state, and federal governmental levels. Mr. McNamara holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology from the Johns Hopkins University, and a Master of Arts in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Delaware.
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