thedrifter
04-18-08, 05:35 AM
Bush picks new recovery director
Ex-Marine general has served in N.O.
Friday, April 18, 2008
By Bruce Alpert
Washington bureau
WASHINGTON -- President Bush today will name a retired Marine Corps major general as the new coordinator for Gulf Coast rebuilding.
White House spokesman Blair Jones, confirming the appointment, said that O'Dell has a "commitment and a passion," as a former resident of New Orleans, to oversee the revitalization of the Gulf Coast and the skills, both as a Marine general and successful businessman, to make it happen.
After Katrina stuck, the Pentagon said that O'Dell deployed 2,700 Marines who assisted in rescuing more than 2,000 civilians and delivering 1 million pounds of supplies.
O'Dell's appointment does not require Senate confirmation. Recently, Bush extended the tenure for the Office of Gulf Coast Rebuilding through the end of his presidency on Jan. 20, 2009.
It will be up to his successor to determine how to handle recovery efforts after that date.
The two Democratic presidential candidates, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, promise to appoint a point person in the White House to update them regularly on rebuilding progress. The presumptive GOP presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, promises to cut pork barrel spending to generate money for needed levee upgrades.
O'Dell, who joined the Marines in 1968 and served in command positions with the Marine Corps Reserves from 1974 through 2001, also had a 28-year career in business in investment management positions. Since leaving the Marine Corps in 2007, he managed a historic inn and restaurant on Maryland's Eastern Shore with his wife, Judith, and two of their five sons.
In his new position, O'Dell will oversee an agency with 18 employees whose mission is to coordinate federal response to ongoing Gulf Coast recovery efforts.
Before taking charge of the 4th Marine Division, O'Dell was commanding general of the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, an anti-terrorism unit.
. . . . . . .
Bruce Alpert can be reached at bruce.alpert@newhouse.com or (202) 383-7861.
Ellie
Ex-Marine general has served in N.O.
Friday, April 18, 2008
By Bruce Alpert
Washington bureau
WASHINGTON -- President Bush today will name a retired Marine Corps major general as the new coordinator for Gulf Coast rebuilding.
White House spokesman Blair Jones, confirming the appointment, said that O'Dell has a "commitment and a passion," as a former resident of New Orleans, to oversee the revitalization of the Gulf Coast and the skills, both as a Marine general and successful businessman, to make it happen.
After Katrina stuck, the Pentagon said that O'Dell deployed 2,700 Marines who assisted in rescuing more than 2,000 civilians and delivering 1 million pounds of supplies.
O'Dell's appointment does not require Senate confirmation. Recently, Bush extended the tenure for the Office of Gulf Coast Rebuilding through the end of his presidency on Jan. 20, 2009.
It will be up to his successor to determine how to handle recovery efforts after that date.
The two Democratic presidential candidates, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, promise to appoint a point person in the White House to update them regularly on rebuilding progress. The presumptive GOP presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, promises to cut pork barrel spending to generate money for needed levee upgrades.
O'Dell, who joined the Marines in 1968 and served in command positions with the Marine Corps Reserves from 1974 through 2001, also had a 28-year career in business in investment management positions. Since leaving the Marine Corps in 2007, he managed a historic inn and restaurant on Maryland's Eastern Shore with his wife, Judith, and two of their five sons.
In his new position, O'Dell will oversee an agency with 18 employees whose mission is to coordinate federal response to ongoing Gulf Coast recovery efforts.
Before taking charge of the 4th Marine Division, O'Dell was commanding general of the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, an anti-terrorism unit.
. . . . . . .
Bruce Alpert can be reached at bruce.alpert@newhouse.com or (202) 383-7861.
Ellie