Bush names replacement for FEMA director

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- President Bush turned to an experienced emergency manager Monday to replace Michael Brown, who resigned as head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

R. David Paulison, named as acting undersecretary in the Department of Homeland Security, has served as director of FEMA's preparedness division since 2001. He previously spent 30 years with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department, rising through the ranks to head the agency.

Brown submitted his resignation Monday, three days after he was relieved as the person in charge of Hurricane Katrina response and recovery operations.

"As I told the president, it is important that I leave now to avoid further distraction from the ongoing mission of FEMA," Brown said in a brief statement.

Brown became head of FEMA after serving as deputy to his predecessor, Joe Allbaugh, who had been his college roommate and Bush's 2000 campaign manager. While he had long been criticized as a political appointee, Brown became the leading target of public anger at the delayed response to Katrina.

Early on, he learned that thousands of New Orleans residents were stranded at the city's convention center only after television newscasts had been showing footage for almost 24 hours.

Time magazine reported last week that Brown padded his resume, allegedly elevating an internship to a management position.