Current Projects
An Independent Preparedness Integration Assessment (posted 11/25/08)

Client/Funder:
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security

Purpose and Scope:

In 2002, with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security [DHS], the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] and over 20 other agencies/entities became part of a new organizational entity.  Subsequent performance failures by FEMA, specifically preparation for and response to Hurricane Katrina, led to a number of internal and external reviews and investigations to determine the causes of these failures and to identify potential solutions.

Congressional concern led to the passage of PL109-295, the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, which set in motion a series of expectations and provided considerable resources for FEMA’s ‘transformation’.  Since then, FEMA has sought to improve its overall performance as the ‘new FEMA’.  These transformation efforts include activities to better integrate preparedness and response programs with particular reference to FEMA’s 10 regional offices.

At the request of the Appropriations Committee, the National Academy of Public Administration will conduct an independent assessment of preparedness and response integration with a focus on FEMA’s 10 regional offices and provide recommendations on the integration, synchronization and strengthening of preparedness programs between FEMA and its regional offices.

Panel:
The Academy has appointed the following individuals to a Panel to oversee and direct the study. The public may send comments on the composition of the panel for a period of seven (7) days after the posted date to mditmeyer@napawash.org.

Michael C. Rogers, Chair*— Executive Vice President, Corporate Services, MedStar Health. Former Executive Director, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments; City Administrator/Deputy Mayor for Operations, Government of the District of Columbia; Director, Minority Business Development Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce; Director, Mayor's Office of Contracts and City Chief Procurement Officer, City of New York; Vice President, Municipal Services, and Executive Director, Jacob Javits Convention Center of New York, Ogden Services Corporation; Deputy General Manager, Washington, DC Convention Center; Staff Associate, Temporary Commission on Financial Oversight of the District of Columbia; Assistant to Executive Director/Director, Minority Executive Placement Program, International City Management Association.

Melissa J. Allen*— Executive Advisor, Booz, Allen, Hamilton. Former Senior Human Resource Advisor, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Assistant Secretary for Administration and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation; Deputy Associate Director, U.S. Office of Management and Budget; Program Analyst, U.S. Department of Treasury. Former positions with the Department of the Navy: Chairwoman, Manpower Action Council; Assistant Personnel Services Officer; Program Analyst.

Anthony H. Griffin*— County Executive, Fairfax County, Virginia. Former Acting County Executive and Deputy County Executive, Fairfax County, Virginia; City Manager, Falls Church, Virginia; Acting County Manager and Deputy County Manager, Arlington County, Virginia; 2nd Lieutenant-Captain, Artillery and Infantry, U.S. Marine Corps.

William H. Leighty*— Chief of Staff to the Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia. Former positions with Commonwealth of Virginia: Chief of Staff, Governor Mark Warner; Director, Virginia Retirement System; Assistant Director, Governor's Commission on Government Reform; Deputy Secretary of Transportation; Senior Economist and Analyst, Senate Finance Committee.

Kristine M. Marcy*— Consultant, McConnell International. Former Chief Operating Officer, Small Business Administration; Senior Counsel, Detention and Deportation, Immigration and Naturalization Service; Assistant Director for Prisoner Services, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Department of Justice; Associate Deputy Attorney General, Office of the Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice; Acting Director/Deputy Director, Office of Construction Management and Deputy Budget Director, U.S. Department of the Interior; Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education; Assistant Director, Human Resources, Veterans and Labor Group, U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Raymond Scheppach*— Executive Director, National Governors Association. Former positions with Congressional Budget Office: Deputy Director; Assistant Director for Natural Resources and Commerce; Chief, Energy and Transportation Cost Analysis Section. Former Vice President and Senior Consultant for Economic Studies, Jack Faucett Association, Inc.; Economist, Standard Oil Company.

Christine Springer*— Executive Director, Masters of Science Program in Emergency and Crisis Management, Greenspun College of Urban Affairs, Department of Public Administration University of Nevada Las Vegas and  CEO, Red Tape, Ltd., LLC.  Former Manager, State-Local Government and Community Relations, Salt River Project; Manager, Economic Development Planning, Office of the Governor, State of Arizona; Treasurer, Investors United Life Insurance Company.

*Academy Fellow

Meetings:
Meeting 1: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 8:30 am (Meeting open)

Contact Information:
For further information, contact Marty Ditmeyer at (202) 347-3190, or at MDitmeyer@napawash.org.