Need a data-mining pro? Call 'Heckuva job Brownie'

Photo by Stephen Voss/Bloomberg News

by Siobhan Gorman

Proving there are second acts in Washington—or at least attempted ones—the fearless former FEMA leader Michael D. Brown is now pitching himself as an expert in data mining.

He owes this expertise to his role as a board member for InferX, which described itself as "a company uniquely capable of delivering secure, real-time intelligence and tactical decision-making support for both government agencies and commercial enterprises" in a press release flaking Brown as a commentator on the controversy surrounding a data-mining program at the National Security Agency. (The Sun, of Baltimore, confirmed the existence of the NSA program last year.)

It also promotes Brownie’s long record of public service, particularly in emergency management.

"As you are likely aware, Brown has garnered over 25 years in public service focused primarily on public safety, preparedness and emergency management, and has led the U.S. federal response to over 160 Presidential declared disasters, which have included some of the largest and worst in human history."

As you are also likely aware, he presided over the national nightmare known as the federal response to Hurricane Katrina.

Oddly, the press pitch underplays Brown’s time as head of FEMA and instead highlights his time as the general counsel of the embattled emergency management agency, which Congress recently overhauled in the wake of the Katrina debacle that forced Brownie’s resignation. Brown was general counsel of FEMA in 2001 for several months before ascending to deputy director and then director.

No mention, either of his tenure as Commissioner of the International Arabian Horse Association—the post he held for more than a decade prior to joining FEMA. Heckuva promotion piece.