Thad Allen will continue as oil spill response chief

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad W. Allen will continue to serve as President Obama’s point man on the Gulf Coast
oil spill after he retires later this month, the administration said
Thursday.

Obama tapped Allen last month to serve as national incident commander when he labeled the spill an “incident of national
significance.” Such incidents — usually a natural disaster or
terrorist attack — require the president to appoint a federal official
to coordinate the government’s response.

Allen is set to be relieved by Adm. Robert J. Papp Jr. by the end of May, but Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Thursday that he will continue to serve as national incident commander.

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