About our Speaker

Lieutenant General Russel L. Honoré (pronounced ON-or-ay) (b. 1947) served as 33rd commanding general of the U.S. First Army at Fort Gillem, Georgia. He is best known for serving as commander of Joint Task Force Katrina responsible for coordinating military relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina-affected areas across the Gulf Coast. He surrendered his command on January 11, 2008 when he retired from the Army. Honoré is sometimes known as "The Ragin' Cajun' ", although he is actually of Louisiana Creole background.

Honoré describes himself an "African-American Creole", a mixture that includes French, American Indian and Spanish.

He makes his home near Fort Gillem in Forest Park, Georgia, located seven miles south of Atlanta.

Biography

A native of Lakeland in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, and youngest of 12 children, Honoré earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Vocational Agriculture from Southern University and A&M College in 1971. He also holds a Master of Arts in Human Resources from Troy State University as well as an Honorary Doctorate in Public Administration from Southern University and A&M College. He has received leadership development training from the Center for Creative Leadership.

Prior to his appointment on July 15, 2004, General Honoré served in a variety of command and staff positions in Korea and Germany. He served as Commanding General, 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea; Vice Director for Operations, J-3, The Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.; Deputy Commanding General and Assistant Commandant, United States Army Infantry Center and School, Fort Benning, Georgia; and Assistant Division Commander, Maneuver/Support, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Most recently, General Honoré served as Commander, Standing Joint Force Headquarters – Homeland Security, U.S. Northern Command.

Hurricane Katrina

On August 31, 2005, Honoré was designated commander of Joint Task Force Katrina responsible for coordinating military relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina-affected areas across the Gulf Coast. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was quoted on a radio interview September 1, 2005, saying: "Now, I will tell you this -- and I give the president some credit on this -- he sent one John Wayne dude down here that can get some stuff done, and his name is [Lt.] Gen. [Russel] Honoré. And he came off the doggone chopper, and he started cussing and people started moving. And he's getting some stuff done." Stars and Stripes, the official newspaper of the United States Armed Forces, reported that Honoré had previous experience dealing with flooding at many Korean bases during monsoon season and supervised the installation of flood control measures.

Awards and accolades

During the halftime of the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana on December 30, 2005, Honoré was honored with the Omar N. Bradley "Spirit of Independence Award" because of his leadership in the recovery of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

General Honoré's awards and decorations include the:

• Defense Distinguished Service Medal,

• Distinguished Service Medal,

• Defense Superior Service Medal,

• Legion of Merit (four Oak Leaf Clusters),

• Bronze Star,

• Defense Meritorious Service Medal,

• Meritorious Service Medal (three Oak Leaf Clusters),

• Army Commendation Medal (three Oak Leaf Clusters),

• Army Achievement Medal,

• National Defense Service Medal (two Bronze Service Stars),

• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal,

• Southwest Asia Service Medal (one Bronze Service Star),

• Global War on Terror Service Medal,

• Korean Defense Service Medal,

• Army Service Ribbon,

• Overseas Service Ribbon,

• Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi),

• Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) and

• Joint Meritorious Unit Award.