President George W. Bush has announced his intent to nominate R. David Paulison of Miami as the head of the U.S. Fire Administration, part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Paulison, 54, is chief of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department and past president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. 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 the agency, which supports state and local fire service programs. Paulison will be responsible for implementing FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh's emergency readiness initiatives, 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,” Allbaugh said in a statement released by the USFA. “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.

A 30-year fire-rescue service veteran, Paulison has been fire chief in Miami-Dade since 1992. In that position, he oversaw 1,900 personnel with a $200 million operating budget and a $70 million capital budget, as well as the county's emergency management office.

Paulison began his career as a rescue firefighter and has served as rescue lieutenant, battalion commander, district chief of operations, division chief, assistant chief and then deputy director for administration before becoming chief. He's a certified paramedic and member of the Miami-Dade USAR task force. His emergency management experience includes Hurricane Andrew and the crash of ValuJet Flight 592.

The Miami native earned a bachelor's degree 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 Florida's fire chief of the year in 1993 and holds positions in several professional associations.