Executive Director

Paul Rainwater

As the Louisiana Recovery Authority’s (LRA) Executive Director, Paul Rainwater serves as the governor’s chief hurricane recovery advisor, providing daily oversight and direction for the state’s recovery initiatives to carry out the LRA’s mission of rebuilding a safer, stronger, smarter Louisiana.

Prior to his appointment as Executive Director of the LRA, Rainwater served as Legislative Director and Chief of Operations for U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La, where he was instrumental in helping the LRA and Senator Landrieu secure the $3 billion necessary to provide full-funding for the Road Home program.

Rainwater also previously served as the Director of Hazard Mitigation and Intergovernmental Affairs for the LRA from June 2006 to January 2007. There he managed the hazard mitigation program’s policies, served as the agency’s hazard mitigation team leader, coordinated with state and federal agencies to set mitigation priorities, coordinated with the FEMA Region 6 hazard mitigation team and served as a spokesperson at 64 public hearings and meetings on recovery efforts.

Rainwater is also currently serving as a lieutenant colonel in the Congressional Liaison Office of the Louisiana National Guard. He previously served as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserves’ 336th Finance Command from August 2005 to May 2007.

He was deployed to Kuwait and Afghanistan as the lead operations officer for military finance operations from November 2001 to May 2002, and was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq as part of the Southwest Asia Personnel Command in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from January 2004 to December 2004.

Rainwater has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.

From July 2000 to June 2006, Rainwater served as the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Lake Charles, managing 10 department heads, serving as the lead on the development of a $90 million budget, and coordinating state and federal capital outlay requests.

Rainwater formerly served as the Manager of Governmental Affairs for Conoco, Inc., Gulf Coast Business Unit in Baton Rouge from 1998 to July 2000. He also previously served as the Manager for Public Affairs for ARCO Chemical in Lake Charles from 1995 to May 1998, managing community affairs programs and coordinating state and federal legislative initiatives. From 1988 to 1996, Rainwater served as an Administrative Aide to the Parish Administrator on the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury in Lake Charles.

Rainwater has a bachelor’s of arts in government from McNeese State University, a master’s degree in international relations from Salve Regina University in Rhode Island, and is a Louisiana State University-Certified Local Government Manager.