Chief R. David Paulison, acting director of FEMA since last September, was confirmed as the head of the agency by the U.S. Senate on May 26. President George W. Bush nominated Paulison in April to serve as the Department of Homeland Security undersecretary for federal emergency management.

Shortly following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Paulison was named by Bush to head the U.S. Fire Administration, which is now part of FEMA. From 2003 to 2004, he also served as director of the Preparedness Division of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate/FEMA within DHS.

Paulison earned the respect of fire chiefs across the country as the leader of the U.S. Fire Administration. He administered a broad range of programs designed to strengthen state and community emergency preparedness. He managed first responder grant programs totaling more than $1 billion and was responsible for the training of federal, state and local emergency managers and first responders from all parts of the country.

Paulison’s background includes a 30-year career as a rescue firefighter who rose through the ranks as rescue lieutenant commander, district chief of operations, division chief, assistant chief and then deputy director for administration before becoming the Miami-Dade fire chief. He is a certified paramedic and, as fire chief, oversaw the Miami-Dade Urban Search and Rescue Task Force. His emergency management experience includes Hurricane Andrew and the crash of ValuJet Flight 592. He is also past president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.