FEMA Director Michael D. Brown's Bio

Federal Emergency Management Agency ^ | 22 June 2005 (last update) | FEMA

[7thOF7th]

And this is the media who hides behind the constitutional protections of the US. The "Yellow Rag" left and their minions can pack sand for all I care. It is the mature adults who understand the importance of being earnest.

[Lessismore]

A more complete list of his pre-FEMA accomlishments is given in the press release for his nomination to be Deputy Director of FEMA at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/12/20011203-6.html His resume has "matured" since then.

His incompetence leading to his being sacked by the IAHA has been attested to by posters in other threads.

He had no prior experience in disaster management.

The President intends to nominate Michael D. Brown to be Deputy Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Brown was appointed FEMA General Counsel in February, and Acting Deputy Director in September, where he has served as the Chairman of the Consequences Management Working Group. From 1991 to 2001, Brown was the Commissioner of the International Arabian Horse Association, an international subsidiary of the national governing organization of the U.S. Olympic Committee. From 1988 to 1991, Brown was General Counsel to Dillingham Insurance, Suits Drilling, Suits Rig, Latigo Energy, Dillingham Ranch and Dillingham Enterprises, and from 1980 to 1988, he was an attorney in private practice. In 1978 to 1980, he worked for the Oklahoma State Senate Finance Committee, and from 1975 to 1978, Brown worked for the City of Edmond, Oklahoma, overseeing the emergency services divisions. Brown is a graduate of Central State University and Oklahoma City University Law School.

[PhilipFreneau]

>> You called that "impressive"--WOW <<

I am sure I did. What is your beef about Brown? Is he not liberal enough for you?

[Lessismore]

I looked that up, and he was not a lawyer, but the 'chief rules enforcer' for the Arabian Horse association.

And that appears to be what he has been doing at FEMA. Writing more bureaucratic rules, and then when disaster strikes, arguing about the rules with everyone in sight instead of rendering disaster aid.

[drjimmy]

I must have missed that part of his bio. Could you please post it?

It appears that FEMA is so ashamed of its director's background that it completely skips over an entire decade in his bio. From 1991 until 2001 he was commissioner of the International Arabian Horse Association, a position he was forced to resign from.

From an article in the conservative Boston Herald: ``We do disciplinary actions, certification of (show trial) judges. We hold classes to train people to become judges and stewards. And we keep records,'' explained a spokeswoman for the IAHA commissioner's office. ``This was his full-time job . . . for 11 years,'' she added.

Arabian horses? Doh! I guess he got appointed to head FEMA because they thought he would be tough on Arabs!

Previously, Mr. Brown served as FEMA's Deputy Director and the agency's General Counsel. Shortly after the September 11th terrorist attacks, Mr. Brown served on the President's Consequence Management Principal's Committee, which acted as the White House's policy coordination group for the federal domestic response to the attacks. Later, the President asked him to head the Consequence Management Working Group to identify and resolve key issues regarding the federal response plan.
That does sound like he has an extensive FEMA background. But it is less so when you discover that all of this took place within the space of just one year. He was named General Counsel in February, Chairman of the Consequences Management Working Group in September, and Deputy Director in December.

[PhilipFreneau]

>> His incompetence leading to his being sacked by the IAHA has been attested to by posters in other threads.

I was under the impression he did his job "too well", going after rule-breakers like he was Rudy Guliani. Is that your definition of incompetence? If not, please explain.

[nutmeg]

bump

[BlazingArizona]

BTW, I looked that up, and he was not a lawyer, but the 'chief rules enforcer' for the Arabian Horse association. I read he was no-nonsense.

So is that why the FEMA Twinkies-on-scene turned back a flotilla of 500 Gulf boaters who were trailering their vessels to NO to do rescues?

[PhilipFreneau]

>>> A more complete list of his pre-FEMA accomlishments is given in the press release for his nomination to be Deputy Director of FEMA at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/12/20011203-6.html His resume has "matured" since then. <<<

His resume "matured" because he had many assignments within FEMA prior to being promoted to its top position. Is that right?

What is about his resume do you not like? What past failures as head of FEMA, or in previous positions with FEMA, are you aware of? (be specific) And what are his failures in the Katrina response? (be specific)

>>He had no prior experience in disaster management.

Did any past FEMA heads have previous disaster management prior to their first job at FEMA? Just curious.

[PhilipFreneau]

>>> "So is that why the FEMA Twinkies-on-scene turned back a flotilla of 500 Gulf boaters who were trailering their vessels to NO to do rescues?"<<<

When and where did this happen? Do you have a link?

[drjimmy]

Did any past FEMA heads have previous disaster management prior to their first job at FEMA? Just curious.

From FEMA's own website:
James Lee Witt was appointed by President Clinton and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in April 1993. He was the first agency head who came to the position with experience in emergency management, having previously served as the Director of the Arkansas Office of Emergency Services for four years.

Why do you think Brown's official FEMA bio skips over his entire decade working for the horse people? Just curious.

[PhilipFreneau]

>>James Lee Witt was appointed by President Clinton and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in April 1993. He was the first agency head who came to the position with experience in emergency management, having previously served as the Director of the Arkansas Office of Emergency Services for four years.<<<

For some reason I was under the impression that Brown oversaw emergency services when he was an Assistant City Manager.

>>> Why do you think Brown's official FEMA bio skips over his entire decade working for the horse people? Just curious.<<

Why did Bush mention it when he appointed Brown to his first FEMA position in 2001? Who knows? It is immaterial. The fact that it has become a left-wing talking point proves it is immaterial.

I am still waiting for someone to point out any failure in Brown's leadership since he became a FEMA employee in 2001. Be specific. No left-wing innuendo.

[BlazingArizona]

When and where did this happen? Do you have a link?

http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/9/3/17282/81965

[Walkenfree]

You say Mr.Brown had no prior experience in "disaster management"? He's married with children isn't he?
C-Span announced today, that Joe Allbaugh (former Fema director), was Never Mr. Brown's roommate at college. They did happen to attend the same college.

[PhilipFreneau]

>> "C-Span announced today, that Joe Allbaugh (former Fema director), was Never Mr. Brown's roommate at college. They did happen to attend the same college." <<<

I am not sure what that has to do with anything, but it is another myth, anyway. Allbaugh said a few days ago that he and Brown did NOT attend the same college. Checking his bio, Allbaugh attended Oklahoma State University. Brown attended Central State University, OK, and Oklahoma City University School of Law.

[PhilipFreneau]

I asked, "When and where did this happen? Do you have a link?"

You replied, "http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/9/3/17282/81965".

Why am I not surprised that this is a left-wing-kook web site? Everything on the site bashes the President and/or FEMA. They even quote Mary Landrieu and Jefferson Parish President Broussard as credible sources. Jeesh!

Were you not the least bit suspicious when you saw ads like, "Help Stop John Roberts", or "Donate to PETA's Animal Emergency Fund". If not, this statement from the first article should have alerted you:

"If there is anyone on the CCN that is in the Baton Rouge area we are meeting today at the LA State Dem Party HQ at 2pm CST to game out tomorrow."

Get a clue...

[BlazingArizona]

Here's another story on boaters being turned away (watch for wrapping!):

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/orl-caneboats0205sep02,0,4766048.story?coll=sfla-news-florida

I'm not joining the flame-Brown chorus here. I shave with an Occam, so let's assume that the problem is field-level FEMA operatives who find themselves in "combat" for the first time and can't get their noses out of the rulebook.

FEMA needs a field man with Ge. Honore's attitude, more like "Screw the rules, let's get it done!"

[PhilipFreneau]

>>> Here's another story on boaters being turned away (watch for wrapping!):
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/orl-caneboats0205sep02,0,4766048.story?coll=sfla-news-florida
<<<

I have already commented on the Sun-Sentinel article in another thread. The article contained the following information your first (the Left-Wing-Kook) reference excluded:

"A FEMA representative said citizen volunteers are not being allowed into New Orleans for one big reason: It's just not safe.

"I think it's understandable, particularly given the TV footage that the entire world is seeing, for folks who have a big heart to feel a little bit frustrated and want to help," said Frances Marine, Orlando's FEMA public-affairs director. "However, it's so important to be coordinated. Those areas are dangerous right now. There are health hazards and limited ways of getting in and out. . . . Right now, private citizens trying to go into those impacted areas are more hindrance than help.""

That sounds like a reasonable explanation to me. In fact, that is exactly what I expected the reason to be. FEMA would have truly been incompetent if they had allowed private citizens into the area when it was virtually under seige by roving bands of armed thugs.

Your initial post insinuated that FEMA turned the boaters away for no particular reason. We get enough Bush-hating spin from the MSM without your spin.

[PhilipFreneau]

>> FEMA needs a field man with Ge. Honore's attitude, more like "Screw the rules, let's get it done!" <<

No. The general is exactly where he needs to be. The head of FEMA needs to be an administrator, like Brown. Brown has performed well.

[indcons]

The criticism he is getting has everything to do with his incompetence. His liberalism, even if it exists, has noting to do with his dismal performance (as attested by many posters on FR).