Louis O. Giuffrida
Encyclopedia
Louis Onorato Giuffrida (born October 2, 1920) was the Ronald Reagan
administration's first director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
from 1981 to 1985.
Giuffrida graduated from the University of Connecticut
(B.A.) and Boston University
(M.A.).
He had a lengthy career in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of colonel
in 1968.
In a newspaper article in the Miami Herald, July 5, 1987, reporter Alfonso Chardy claimed that, at the US Army War College, Giuffrida had once written a paper advocating the forcible relocation of millions of black Americans to concentration camps in the event of a national emergency, but no such paper has even been offered into evidence.http://www.historycommons.org/entity.jsp?entity=louis_giuffrida_1#brinkerhoff82 This newspaper article turns out to be the only authority for the existence of that paper.
In 1971 he left the Army and organized the California Specialized Training Institute for then California
Governor Reagan. The institute trained state employees in emergency management and police in counter-terrorism activities.. It was during this time that Giuffrida became friends with Edwin Meese
.
He also served as an advisor on terrorism, emergency management, and other special topics for Governor Reagan. He was eventually promoted to the rank of general in the California National Guard
.
Giuffrida was confirmed on May 18, 1981. At the time of his nomination Giuffrida was president of the Specialized Management Services Co. and director of the California Specialized Training Institute.
During his tenure at FEMA, Giuffrida developed much of FEMA's civil defense programs, including Continuity of Government.
Giuffrida was eventually forced out of the agency in 1985 after it was revealed that he spent government money to build a private residence at FEMA's Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland
.
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
administration's first director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
from 1981 to 1985.
Giuffrida graduated from the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
(B.A.) and Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
(M.A.).
He had a lengthy career in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in 1968.
In a newspaper article in the Miami Herald, July 5, 1987, reporter Alfonso Chardy claimed that, at the US Army War College, Giuffrida had once written a paper advocating the forcible relocation of millions of black Americans to concentration camps in the event of a national emergency, but no such paper has even been offered into evidence.http://www.historycommons.org/entity.jsp?entity=louis_giuffrida_1#brinkerhoff82 This newspaper article turns out to be the only authority for the existence of that paper.
In 1971 he left the Army and organized the California Specialized Training Institute for then California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Governor Reagan. The institute trained state employees in emergency management and police in counter-terrorism activities.. It was during this time that Giuffrida became friends with Edwin Meese
Edwin Meese
Edwin "Ed" Meese, III is an attorney, law professor, and author who served in official capacities within the Ronald Reagan Gubernatorial Administration , the Reagan Presidential Transition Team , and the Reagan White House , eventually rising to hold the position of the 75th Attorney General of...
.
He also served as an advisor on terrorism, emergency management, and other special topics for Governor Reagan. He was eventually promoted to the rank of general in the California National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
.
Giuffrida was confirmed on May 18, 1981. At the time of his nomination Giuffrida was president of the Specialized Management Services Co. and director of the California Specialized Training Institute.
During his tenure at FEMA, Giuffrida developed much of FEMA's civil defense programs, including Continuity of Government.
Giuffrida was eventually forced out of the agency in 1985 after it was revealed that he spent government money to build a private residence at FEMA's Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland
Emmitsburg, Maryland
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,290 people, 811 households, and 553 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,992.9 people per square mile . There were 862 housing units at an average density of 750.2 per square mile...
.