“He has an advantage over anyone coming in cold,” Kim said. “Everybody that comes into Civil Defense learns very fast that there’s so much to learn. … He has a head start, obviously, over any stranger.”
BY NANCY COOK LAUER
WEST HAWAII TODAY
ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com
HILO — Hawaii Army National Guard Col. Benedict L. Fuata was named Civil Defense administrator by Mayor Billy Kenoi Thursday.
Fuata, 50, replaces Quince Mento, who retired Dec. 1.
Commander of the Army Aviation Support Facility in Hilo since 1993, Fuata has worked closely with Civil Defense and is therefore a logical choice, Kenoi said. He also serves as the director of Logistics for the Hawaii Army National Guard during Inactive Duty Training.
“I have worked directly with Col. Fuata through two tsunamis and a hurricane in the past three years and I am confident that he will do a great job,” Kenoi said in a statement. “Keeping our island and its residents safe and secure is what the Civil Defense Agency does and we are fortunate that Col. Fuata is willing to step up and accept this tremendous responsibility.”
The Civil Defense Agency directs and coordinates the county’s emergency preparedness and response programs to ensure prompt and effective action when natural disasters and other emergencies occur anywhere on the island.
Fuata holds a M.A. degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix and a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Santa Clara.
He will assume his new post as Civil Defense administrator March 1 and will take the next several weeks to make the transition from his previous position at the National Guard.
“I am very honored by my selection and I’m looking forward to working with Mayor Kenoi and our entire Civil Defense team to address the many challenges ahead,” Fuata said in a statement.
Former Mayor Harry Kim, who also served as Civil Defense administrator before becoming mayor, said Thursday that Fuata is a good choice, someone who impressed Kim as very conscientious.
“He has an advantage over anyone coming in cold,” Kim said. “Everybody that comes into Civil Defense learns very fast that there’s so much to learn. … He has a head start, obviously, over any stranger.”