Russ Webster
William “Russ” Webster was named regional administrator for FEMA’s Region 1, which covers Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Webster served as federal preparedness coordinator for the region from 2008 until 2015. He previously worked for TSA at Boston’s Logan Airport, serving as deputy federal security director from 2006 to 2008, and as assistant federal security director for screening from 2004 to 2006.
Webster is a retired captain with the Coast Guard and was chief of operations for the First Coast Guard District from 2001 to 2003. He received a bachelor’s degree from the Coast Guard Academy in 1977 and has two master’s degrees, from the Naval Postgraduate School and the Naval War College. He also authored The Pendleton Disaster Off Cape Cod: The Greatest Small Boat Rescue in Coast Guard History; The Tragic Sinking of the Sol-e-Mar Off Martha’s Vineyard; and Lost in Charleston’s Waves: The Tragedy of the Sailing Vessel Morning Dew.
Among FEMA Region 1’s biggest responses was aid post-Hurricane Sandy in 2012, when, for example, Connecticut total individual and households program dollars approved were $15,411,911 and total public assistance grants dollars obligated were $60,338,647.
There were of course myriad researchers, grant writers and decision makers involved in the process.
