Robert David Paulison (born February 27, 1947)[1] is an American former fire chief who served as the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Paulison was appointed by President George W. Bush on September 12, 2005, to replace the embattled Michael D. Brown, who resigned amid controversy over his handling of disaster relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Prior to his appointment, Paulison was perhaps best known nationally for his 2003 advisory regarding household items (including duct tape and plastic sheeting) to have on hand in case of terrorist attack.

[2] On September 20, 2001, President George W. Bush announced that he would appoint Paulison (a Democrat) as the head of the United States Fire Administration, now a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Directorate of Preparedness.

It was not in this role, rather he had also been made Director of FEMA's Preparedness Division, that Paulison released an advisory on February 10, 2003, recommending households keep several common items on hand in case of a biological, chemical or radiological terrorist attack.