Senate Homeland Security Committee Issues Testimony By FEMA Deputy Administrator Nominee

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee issued the following statement by Daniel Kaniewski, President Trump's nominee for deputy administrator for the Protection and National Preparedness Directorate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency:

"Good Morning Chairman Johnson, Ranking Member McCaskill, and Members of the Committee. I am Daniel Kaniewski and I am pleased to appear before you today regarding my nomination to the position of Deputy Administrator for Protection and National Preparedness at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). My father Wayne and brother Bob join me today, and hello to my mother watching online. I would like to thank President Trump, former Secretary John Kelly, and Acting Secretary Duke for supporting my nomination for this position. I have spent my entire career in the homeland security and emergency management field and I would like to take this opportunity to briefly describe my interest in and qualifications for this position.

"As I sit here today I vividly remember 9/11, where from the press gallery atop the Capitol building I watched with disbelief smoke rising from the Pentagon. And later would learn we had been in the bullseye of the 9/11 hijackers. I also think back to August 2005 when, shortly after I had joined the White House, Hurricane Katrina came ashore. There I witnessed first-hand the failed response and subsequently served as co-author of the White House report "The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned" and oversaw the implementation of those lessons. Both of these experiences reaffirmed my belief that this is the field that I would dedicate my career.

"It is thus an honor to be with you today to answer your questions for this critically important role at an agency that has shaped my professional development.

"Background/Experience:

"For the past twenty years, I have focused on efforts to better prepare governments and citizens for natural and manmade disasters. I began my career as a firefighter/emergency medical technician in 1996. In that role, I learned firsthand the need for preparing for major incidents. I subsequently earned a degree in emergency medical services, became a certified paramedic, and engaged on policy issues in several governmental and non-governmental roles.

"I served as Special Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Senior Director for Response Policy during the George W. Bush Administration. I advised the President and senior White House staff during domestic incidents and coordinated interagency emergency management policies. I oversaw the disaster

"declaration process for more than 200 presidentially declared disasters and emergencies.

"I have also analyzed emergency management polices at think tanks and in academia. At George Washington University I was Assistant Vice President for Homeland Security and Deputy Director of the Homeland Security Policy Institute. In that capacity, I contributed to the debate on contemporary homeland security and emergency management policy issues through publications, media appearances, and task forces. I also taught emergency management and national security courses at George Washington University and at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service as an adjunct assistant professor

"I closely supported FEMA for three and a half years as Mission Area Director for Resilience and Emergency Preparedness/Response at a federally funded research and development center serving the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In this role, I was the senior executive responsible for emergency management, infrastructure security/resilience, and cybersecurity studies.

"I currently lead the resilience practice at the catastrophe risk modeling and consulting services firm AIR Worldwide. My practice identifies and quantifies risks to populations and infrastructure, evaluates mitigation strategies, and informs disaster finance programs, with a goal of making society more resilient for disasters.

"In addition to my full time employment, I have also held relevant pro-bono positions. I recently completed a four-year term on the District of Columbia Homeland Security Commission, where I advised the city on homeland security and emergency management policies. I am also a Center for Cyber & Homeland Security Senior Fellow, where I contribute on homeland security and emergency management topics.

"Conclusion:

"Thank you for your consideration of my nomination. If confirmed, I will work tirelessly to help prepare governments, communities, and individuals for man-made and natural disasters. Leading FEMA's preparedness programs would be the culmination of many experiences in my career in homeland security and emergency management. I can think of no higher honor than serving the American people, FEMA and its stakeholders to enhance the Nation's preparedness for disasters."