Mike Futrell

C. Michael "Mike" Futrell
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 66th district
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
Personal details
Born	(1960-07-20) July 20, 1960 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Baton Rouge High School Louisiana State University(B.B.A.) Paul M. Hebert Law Center (Juris Doctor) University of Massachusetts-Amherst (MBA)
Occupation	City manager
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1982-1996, 2006, 2010-2011
Rank	Captain (Reserves)
Unit	USS Grant USS Kentucky
Battles/wars	Iraq War

C. Michael Futrell (born July 20, 1960) is the City Manager for South San Francisco, California. He is an attorney, a retired United States Navy officer, and a former elected official.

Early Life

A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Futrell was raised in Sherwood Forest subdivision. In 1978, he graduated from Baton Rouge High School. In 1982, he received a Bachelor of Business and Public Administration from Louisiana State University. While at LSU, Futrell was elected President of the Student Body. Futrell also received a Juris Doctor degree from LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and completed the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Learn-Engage-Accelerate-Disrupt (LEAD) Certificate program in Corporate Innovation. Futrell is also a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, in Montgomery, Alabama. In 2000, Futrell was named Louisiana State University Young Alumnus of the Year.

Navy Career

From 1987 to 1993, Commander Futrell served two tours of duty as an officer on nuclear submarines.^[1] On the submarine USS Ulysses S. Grant (SSBN-631), near the end of the Cold War, Futrell came in constant contact with submarines of the former Soviet Union. Futrell also served on the commissioning crew of the submarine USS Kentucky (SSBN 737) operating out of Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia. In 2006, Futrell was recalled to active duty for twelve months during the Iraq War. ^[1] For that service Commander Futrell was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. ^[2] The award cites Futrell for exceptional leadership while serving with Multi-National Forces Iraq and the First Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq, noting he traveled extensively in Iraq and was repeatedly exposed to direct threat from the enemy. Futrell was assigned as the Officer in Charge of DRMS operations in Iraq, leading installations at four U.S. bases in Iraq. In 2010, Futrell was again recalled to active military duty, this time on staff at U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii, as a Navy Captain (United States O-6), where he was Director of the Commander's Action Group (CAG) working directly with the Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Robert F. Willard. He also led a Crisis Action Team responding to the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster in Japan code named Operation Tomodachi.^[3] 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.^[4]

Public Service

In 1996 Futrell was elected to the City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council, succeeding the incumbent Republican member Lynda Imes, who instead ran for the Louisiana State Senate but lost to the Republican Jay Dardenne.^[5] Futrell was named as one of Baton Rouge Business Report's "40 Under 40" rising stars in Baton Rouge.^[6]

From 2000 to 2005, Futrell served in the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 66 in East Baton Rouge Parish. He resigned a year into his second term^[7] to become the state director for then freshman U.S. Senator David Vitter, who vacated his seat in 2017. Journalist John Maginnis said that Futrell was well-liked and well-regarded during his time in the House of Representatives. In 2002, Futrell 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.^[1]

In 2008, Futrell left the staff of U.S. Senator David Vitter to work for the City of Baton Rouge under Mayor-President Kip Holden as the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer of the City of Baton Rouge, serving under CAO Walter Monsour said that Futrell immediately earned his trust through the handling of the City's $1.2 billion sewer program. Monsour described Futrell as "a very smart person...who had a great sense of when to step up and speak his mind, and I appreciated that." In 2009, upon Monsour's retirement, Futrell was elevated to Chief Administrative Officer by Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden, a Democrat.^[8]

In 2014, Futrell relocated to South San Francisco to become the city's City Manager.^[9] He reorganized the city staff, hiring a new Police Chief, Fire Chief, Assistant City Manager, Economic Development Director, Human Resources Director, Finance Director and IT Manager. South San Francisco Mayor Richard Garbarino said officials have been impressed by Futrell's work since he was hired, "He's done just a heck of a job for us, he's got some bright ideas, and he's really a dynamic individual." Futrell is a Certified City/County Manager by the International City/County Manager Association (ICMA).

References