Bettenhausen Appointed Secretary of Cal EMA

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Matthew Bettenhausen has been appointed secretary for the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) today by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, according to a news release form the California State Fire Association (CSFA).

"As a valued member of my administration, Matt has played a key role in ensuring that we are prepared to protect Californians from potential emergencies and disaster situations," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "With his experience and capabilities, I am confident that Matt will continue to provide Californians with the highest levels of security, emergency preparedness, response and recovery."

In 2009, Cal EMA was formed by legislation created by the Governor to be a streamlined cabinet-level agency, with the merging of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and the Office of Emergency Services in order to strengthen the state's ability to respond to emergencies and natural disasters. Cal EMA is responsible for leading the state's emergency response and recovery and expanding education of personal preparedness and hazardous mitigation. On behalf of the state, Cal EMA oversees and distributes discretionary state and federal homeland security and preparedness funds, according to the release.

Bettenhausen has served as acting secretary since Cal EMA began. He previously served as the director of the Office of Homeland Security from 2005 to 2008. Prior to that he was the director of state and territorial coordination for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from 2003 to 2005 and deputy governor for criminal justice and public safety and special counsel to the Governor of Illinois from 2000 to 2003. From 1987 to 2000, Bettenhausen was also a federal prosecutor and served in several supervisory positions within the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago, according to CSFA.

"It's an honor to work with the Governor and his administration to help ensure the safety of my fellow Californians," said Bettenhausen. "I will continue to work with the rest of our Cal EMA staff to provide our state with the highest level security and emergency readiness."

Bettenhausen was recently appointed by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to serve on the Homeland Security Advisory System Task Force. He is the elected chair of the National Governors Association's Homeland Security Advisors Council and co-chair of the National Homeland Security Consortium. According to the CSFA, he serves on the external advisory board to Sandia National Laboratory, is a board member of the Western Institute for Food Safety and Security, and is also a member of the George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institutes's task force on radicalization and extremism.

Bettenhausen, 49, is a Republican from Sacramento. He holds a Juris Doctorate degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This position will require confirmation by the Senate. Compensation for the position is $175,000.


Author:Barbara Brooks - FDNNTV.com