President Barack Obama's Florida pick to head up the Federal Emergency Management Agency appears poised for confirmation by the Senate.

Craig Fugate got a glowing introduction at the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs by Republican Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, who introduced the Florida emergency management chief as a "great Floridian."

"In my view there's no more well-qualified person for the job," Martinez said. He noted Fugate as Florida's emergency director managed 23 state emergencies, including 11 presidentially declared disasters.

"It was Craig’s tremendous ability to coordinate disaster response, recovery, preparedness and mitigation efforts with each of the state's 67 counties and local governments that earned him reappointment after Gov. Charlie Crist was elected governor in 2006," Martinez said, noting Fugate was first appointed director by former Gov. Jeb Bush in 2001. "Although we in Florida will be sad to see him leave, our nation needs him as we continue to work toward improving our response to national disasters."