DOD veteran named to head St. Charles EOP

Published 12:00 am Monday, May 11, 2009

Special to L’Observateur

HAHNVILLE — A Department of Defense professional with extensive experience in intelligence analysis and incident management has been confirmed as director of the St. Charles Parish Department of Emergency Preparedness.

Scott P. Whelchel, 33, a native of Broussard, most recently served as chief of the Department of Defense Counterintelligence Analysis and Collection Program in Arlington, Va. He began his career with the Louisiana National Guard in 1994.

Parish President V.J. St. Pierre Jr. said management style and interpersonal skills were an important consideration in making the appointment.

“With a position as important as Emergency Preparedness director, you really need someone with both technical knowledge and credibility,” he said. “I know Mr. Whelchel will be extremely effective as the face of emergency operations in our very vulnerable parish.”

In addition to implementing emergency operations plans for natural and man-made disasters and their aftermaths, Whelchel will oversee daily operations at the Emergency Operations Center located at the courthouse in Hahnville.

The Emergency Operations Center is currently gearing up for hurricane season, which begins June 1. Hurricane response is headquartered at EOC, with all key parish agencies using the facility as base of operations before, during and after a storm.

The mission of St. Charles Parish government is to provide high quality, efficient services to sustain and enhance the quality of life for all residents of St. Charles Parish.