One of the lowest moments of President Bush's second term was his congratulatory slap-on-the-back of former FEMA head Michael Brown - "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job" - amid the government's chaotic response to Hurricane Katrina. Many people at the time thought it too bad that Craig Fugate was not in charge of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
But if President Obama has his way - and he does most of the time these days - Fugate, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, will soon head the troubled agency in Washington.
Fugate is a marvelous choice, a seasoned professional who, along with Gov. Jeb Bush, helped the state overcome the devastation brought by eight hurricanes in 2004 and 2005.
As a volunteer firefighter and paramedic and a lieutenant with Alachua County Fire-Rescue, he has experience as a first responder. He built a nationally recognized emergency management program as head of the division's bureau of preparedness and response before his elevation to the directorship. He can be expected to do the same for FEMA.
"I'm confident that Craig is the right person for the job and will ensure that the failures of the past are never repeated," the president said in a statement.
Indeed, his work in Florida has set a model for other states. By tapping Fugate, President Obama has tapped a man with the experience to improve the federal response to natural disasters and other emergencies.
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