James Lee Witt
Chief Executive Officer
James Lee Witt Associates

James Lee Witt is currently Chief Executive Officer of James Lee Witt Associates providing public safety and emergency management services to state and local governments, educational institutions, the international community, and corporations.

In 2003, Mr. Witt also became the Chief Executive Officer of the International Code Council (ICC), a 50,000-member association dedicated to building safety, developing the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools.

James Lee Witt has over 25 years of disaster management experience, culminating in his appointment as the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where he served from 1993-2001. In this capacity, he is credited with turning FEMA from an unsuccessful bureaucratic agency to an internationally lauded all-hazards disaster management agency. His leadership abilities have been praised by nationally recognized organizations, including the Council for Excellence in Government, Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, and the National Association of Broadcasters. He currently serves as special advisor to Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to assist with the long-term recovery in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Mr. Witt was appointed by President Clinton and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in April 1993. In February 1996, President Clinton elevated Mr. Witt to cabinet status — a first for a FEMA Director. As FEMA Director, Mr. Witt coordinated federal disaster relief on behalf of President Clinton, including the response and recovery activities of 28 federal agencies and departments, the American Red Cross and other voluntary agencies. He also oversaw the National Flood Insurance Program, the U.S. Fire Administration and other proactive mitigation activities including Project Impact: Building Disaster Resistant Communities that reduce loss of life and property from all types of hazards. While at FEMA, Mr. Witt directed 2,500 employees located in Washington, D.C., and 10 regional offices.

From 1993 to 2000, Mr. Witt oversaw more than 350 federally declared disasters. More importantly, he was responsible for response and recovery operations for six of the ten most devastating disasters of all time, including the most costly flood disaster in the nation's history, the most costly U.S. earthquake, and a dozen damaging hurricanes.

Mr. Witt integrated flood mitigation, control and protection into FEMA’s policy. After the devastating Midwest floods of 1993, Mr. Witt pursued an aggressive flood-prone property acquisition and relocation program. By purchasing properties that were repeatedly flooded, he saved taxpayers millions of dollars because of these buyouts when floods again ravaged the same Midwest area in 1995.

Mr. Witt’s professional career includes the formation of Witt Construction, a commercial and residential construction company. After 12 years as a successful businessman and community leader, he was elected County Judge for Yell County, serving as the chief elected official for the county, with judicial responsibilities for county and juvenile court as well as emergency management functions. At age 34, he was the youngest elected county judge in Arkansas, and was later honored for his accomplishments by the National Association of Counties. After being re-elected six times to the position, Mr. Witt was tapped by then-Governor Bill Clinton to assume leadership of the Arkansas Office of Emergency Services (OES). He served as the Director of the Arkansas OES for four years.