[StBernard] Military Veteran To Stay As Head of St. Bernard's Storm Recovery

[Westley Annis]

Military Veteran To Stay As Head of St. Bernard's Storm Recovery

December 28 , 2005

By: Steve Cannizaro


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David Dysart, given a four-month contract in October to direct St. Bernard's
storm recovery after first coming to the parish as a Marine Lt. Col.
following Hurricane Katrina, will stay in the position as a salaried
employee, the Parish Council voted Wednesday.

Dysart, 44, a 20-year military veteran who is now a Reservist, had been on a
four-month contract at $10,000 per month to rebuild the parish from Katrina.

The Council voted to keep him as head of recovery but at a salary of $65,000
for the next year, with benefits, starting in January.

A Kansas City area native, Dysart is responsible for coordinating
restoration efforts with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the
Environmental Protection Agency, Homeland Security, the Housing and Urban
Development agency and other federal agencies.

Among other career highlights, he previously directed the rebuilding of
Fallujah in Iraq in 2004 after the town of more than 300,000 was destroyed
in the fight against insurgents.

Parish President Henry "Junior'' Rodriguez recommended Dysart be
retained."If you lose the Colonel you lose one of your biggest assets,''
Rodriguez told the Council.