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Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe has been appointed by President George W. Bush to serve on the President’s Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC). In announcing the appointment, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the Council is his primary group of advisers, providing advice and recommendations on homeland security issues. It is comprised of experts from state and local governments, first responder communities, academia and the private sector.
"I value the independent and innovative advice I receive from my Homeland Security Advisory Council and its Senior Advisory Committees," said Secretary Chertoff. “These appointments will only augment the knowledge and experience of our membership that provide me the most important perspective – that of the troops in the field as we work together to keep America safe.”
While the members of Council provide advice and recommendations directly to the Department of Homeland Security, the Council also has five independent subcommittees that focus on specific issue areas, including border security, emergency response, and private sector needs. Knabe has served on one of these subcommittees for nearly five years. In October 2002, he was appointed by the President to the Council’s State and Local Officials Senior Advisory Committee. In addition to his Presidential appointment, Knabe also serves on the California Emergency Council since being appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in May 2006.
Knabe is one of three new appointees to the main Homeland Security Advisory Council. He will be joined by Governor Sonny Perdue of Georgia and Dr. John “Skip” Williams, Provost and Vice President for Health Affairs at George Washington University. Some of the other members of the Council include: William Webster, former Director of the CIA; Louis Freeh, former Director of the FBI; and James Schlesinger, former Secretary of Defense and Energy. In his new appointment, Knabe will also serve as the Chair of his original committee, the State and Local Officials Senior Advisory Committee.
“I am honored to have been selected by the White House to serve as a member of the President’s Homeland Security Advisory Council,” said Knabe. “It has been a privilege to serve on one of the Council’s subcommittees for the past five years, and I look forward to this new leadership role. As I often say, homeland security begins in the hometown. Locally, we have accomplished much since 9/11 to increase the preparedness of our local cities and unincorporated communities from the threats of terrorism and natural disasters. I look forward to the opportunity to bring some of our local programs and lessons-learned into the work of protecting our entire nation.”
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