Andrew David Kopplin

Andy Kopplin was hand-picked by former Gov. Kathleen Blanco to head the Louisiana Recovery Authority, the powerful panel that acted as the conduit for more than $25 billion in federal recovery aid following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Kopplin left the LRA in January 2008 when Blanco's term ended. Before taking the helm of the LRA, he was Blanco's chief of staff, the same job he held in the administration of her predecessor, Gov. Mike Foster. Most recently, he has held a top administrative post with Teach For America. Kopplin has a bachelor's from Rice University, a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and is a 1986 Harry S. Truman Scholarship winner.