Mike Futrell

C. Michael "Mike" Futrell
Louisiana State Representative from District 66 (East Baton Rouge Parish)
In office 2000–2005
Preceded by	Woody Jenkins
Succeeded by	Hunter Greene
Member of the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council, District 8
In office 1997–2000
Preceded by	Lynda Imes
Succeeded by	Mike Walker
Chief Administrative Officer of East Baton Rouge Parish
In office 2009–2010
Preceded by	Walter Monsour
Succeeded by	William Daniel
City Manager of South San Francisco
Incumbent
Assumed office 2014
Preceded by	Barry Nagel
Personal details
Born	July 20, 1960 Baton Rouge East Baton Rouge Parish Louisiana, USA
Nationality	American
Political party	Independent, formerly Republican
Alma mater	Baton Rouge High School Louisiana State University(B.B.A.) Paul M. Hebert Law Center (Juris Doctor) University of Massachusetts-Amherst (MBA) Stanford University (LEAD Certificate)
Occupation	City Manager
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1982-1996, 2006, 2010-2011
Rank	Captain
Unit	USS Grant USS Kentucky (SSBN-737)
Battles/wars	Iraq War

C. Michael Futrell, known as Mike Futrell (born July 20, 1960), is City Manager for the city of South San Francisco, California. He is also an attorney, a retired United States Navy officer (CAPT, O-6), and an elected official from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

From 2000 to 2005, Futrell served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 66 in East Baton Rouge Parish. He resigned a year into his second term^[1] to become the state director for freshman U.S. Senator David Vitter. Having followed Democrat-turned-Republican Woody Jenkins in the House, Futrell was himself succeeded by another Republican lawyer, Hunter Greene. Journalist John Maginnis said that Futrell did not stand out during his tenure in the legislature but was well-liked and well-regarded. Futrell's resume indicates that in 2002, he received the "Golden Apple Legislators Support of Education" award. In 2004, he obtained the Louisiana Municipal Association Leadership Award. In 2005, he procured the Louisiana Family Forum Legislative Advocate Award.^[2]

Prior to the House tenure, Futrell was from 1997 to 2000 the District 8 member of the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council. He was elected without opposition in September 1996 to succeed the incumbent Republican member Lynda Imes, who instead ran for the Louisiana State Senate but lost to the Republican Jay Dardenne.^[3] Futrell was named as one of Baton Rouge Business Report's "40 Under 40" rising stars in Baton Rouge.^[4]

In 2008, after leaving Vitter's staff, Futrell became the assistant chief administrative officer of the City of Baton Rouge, serving under Walter Monsour. In 2009, upon Monsour's retirement, Futrell was elevated to Chief Administrative Officer by Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden, a Democrat.^[5]

A native of Baton Rouge, Futrell was reared in the Sherwood Forest subdivision. In 1978, he graduated from Baton Rouge High School. In 1982, he received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Louisiana State University. In 1985, he received the Juris Doctor degree from the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and also a graduate of the Air Force Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. From 1987 to 1993, Commander Futrell served two tours of duty as an officer on nuclear submarines.^[2] On the USS Grant, near the end of the Cold War, Futrell came in constant contact with submarines of the former Soviet Union. The communists tracked the American vessels so that they could attack immediately if war were suddenly declared. The Americans tried to avoid attack to remain a nuclear deterrent against the Soviets. Futrell also served on the submarine, the USS Kentucky. Futrell said that he had considered becoming an attorney for the Judge Advocate General's office but instead entered a private firm in Baton Rouge.^[2]

In 2006, while on Vitter's staff, Futrell was recalled to active duty for twelve months during the Iraq War.^[2] For that service, he won the Bronze Star.^[6] Futrell was assigned as Officer in Charge of DRMS operations in Iraq, leading installations at four U.S. bases in Iraq. He soon returned to Vitter's office to manage the D. C. Madam scandal. He resigned as Vitter's state director, not because of that controversy, but because he desired to return permanently to Baton Rouge, and the state directorship had required travel throughout the state to Vitter's seven district offices.^[2]

In 2008, Futrell completed the leadership course offered by the interest group, the Council for a Better Louisiana. He then joined the Holden administration. Then CAO Walter Monsour said that Futrell immediately earned his trust through the handling of the city-parish $1.2 billion sewer program. Monsour describes Futrell as "a very smart person ... who had a great sense of when to say ‘yes, sir,’ when to say ‘no, sir,’ and when to step up and speak his mind, and I appreciated that. ..."

In 2010 Futrell was again recalled to active duty, this time on the staff of U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii, serving as a Navy Captain. At U.S. Pacific Command, Futrell was Director of the Commander's Action Group (CAG) working directly with the Commander of U.S. Pacific Command. He also led a crisis action team responding to the earthquake in Japan.^[7] At the end of his one year tour of duty, Futrell stayed in Hawaii as Executive Vice President of Hawaii Gas, the natural gas utility company servicing the major islands in Hawaii.^[8] In 2014, Futrell relocated to South San Francisco to become the city's City Manager.^[9] He received his law degree from Louisiana State University Paul M. Herbert Law Center, holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from University of Massachusetts-Amherst and a bachelor’s in business and public administration from Louisiana State University.

References

1. "Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2012" (PDF). legis.state.la.us. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
2. "Executive Orders: Mike Futrell". businessreport.com. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
3. "Louisiana Secretary of State, Primary election returns, September 21, 1996". staticresults.sos.louisiana.gov. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
4. "Forty Under 40 honorees (1994-2014) - Baton Rouge Business Report". Baton Rouge Business Report. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
5. Scott Dyer, "Holden names Mike Futrell parish's CAO", Baton Rouge Morning Advocate, January 16, 2009, p. 1B
6. "Former State Rep. Mike Futrell Receives Bronze Star for Service in Iraq". lanewslink.com. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
7. "Mike Futrell, former CAO - Where is he now? - City Hall Buzz". City Hall Buzz. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
8. "PEOPLE WHO MAKE HAWAII WORK - Pacific Business News". Pacific Business News. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
9. "San Mateo Daily Journal". www.smdailyjournal.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01.