This seems like a good thing to me. Obviously UPS knows how to move things around far better than FEMA.
From the UPS Web site (interestingly they did not choose FedEx, a company with a "Joint Terrorism Task Force"):
http://ups.com/pressroom/us/press_releases/press_release/0,1088,4926,00.htmlUPS Executive "Loaned" to FEMA to Provide Logistics Expertise
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 4, 2007 - Matt Lawrence, a veteran UPS logistician, has become the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) first loaned executive from private industry.
Lawrence, whose nine-month assignment begins today, will report to the newly-created Logistics Management Directorate. According to the Directorate's assistant administrator, William "Eric" Smith, Lawrence will assist in the evaluation of current disaster logistics processes and will share best-practices from the private sector.
"FEMA understands that critical know-how will be lost if we don't actively engage our partners across all spectrums, including the private sector," said Smith. "With his talent and experience, I believe Mr. Lawrence will be a great asset as we continue to develop the new logistics directorate inside FEMA."