be on their own for possibly 48 to 72 hours." Later in 2003, Bush appointed Paulison director of the newly created National Preparedness Division of the Emergency Preparedness & Response Directorate. This distinctly DHS Directorate, was later made a part of FEMA again almost two years after Paulison became FEMA's acting "chief", Department of Homeland Security. In April 2006, Acting FEMA Director and U.S. Fire Administrator Paulison was nominated to become the first DHS Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management in charge of FEMA. Later, in May 2006, Paulison was unanimously confirmed and sworn in on June 8, 2006, as the first Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management. In April 2008 The Miami Herald had reported that Paulison was considering resigning, which was repudiated by the Under Secretary while testifying before the Senate Homeland Security Committee. Paulison noted that the newspaper had "misunderstood his statements", and that he was instead attempting to get the agency prepared for the incoming Obama Administration appointee. On January 21, 2009, Paulison announced his resignation. Sources at the Miami Herald noted that rumors had been swirling that he was "tired" and "disillusioned" and would resign soon but that the White House was pressuring him to stay on. When asked by reporters if he would consider staying on at the request of the new president and he responded: "probably not." Paulison selected Nancy L. Ward, currently a FEMA regional director (for region IX, which serves Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Northern Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and American Samoa), to be interim director after his resignation took effect. See also List of U.S. political appointments that crossed party lines References External links Official FEMA biography 1947 births American fire chiefs Federal Emergency Management Agency officials Florida Atlantic University alumni George W. Bush administration personnel Harvard Kennedy School alumni Living people People from Miami United States Department of Homeland Security officials