Mike Futrell

Early life

A native of Baton Rouge, Futrell was raised in the Sherwood Forest subdivision. In 1978, he graduated from Baton Rouge High School. In 1982, he received his Bachelor of Business and Public Administration from Louisiana State University. While at LSU, Futrell was elected President of the Student Body. In 1985, he received a Juris Doctor degree from LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center. Futrell received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and completed the Stanford Graduate School of Business Learn-Engage-Accelerate-Disrupt (LEAD) Certificate program in Corporate Innovation. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. In 2000 Futrell was named the 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. 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. The communists tracked the American vessels so that they could attack immediately if war were suddenly declared. The Americans tried to avoid attack to remain a nuclear deterrent against the Soviets. Futrell also served on the submarine, the USS Kentucky. Futrell said that he had considered becoming an attorney for the Judge Advocate General's office but instead entered a private law firm in Baton Rouge.

In 2006 Futrell was recalled to active duty for twelve months during the Iraq War. For that service, he won the Bronze Star. The award cites Navy Commander Futrell for exceptional leadership while serving with Multi-National Forces and the First Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq, noting he traveled extensively in Iraq and was repeatedly exposed to direct threat by the enemy. Futrell was assigned as 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 duty, this time on the staff of U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii, serving as a Navy Captain (United States O-6). At U.S. Pacific Command, Futrell was Director of the Commander's Action Group (CAG) working directly with the Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, Robert F. Willard. He also led a Crisis Action Team responding to the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster in Japan code named Operation Tomodachi. Futrell was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal for his leadership at U.S. Pacific Command, and for successful completion of a comprehensive Theater Strategy for the Asia-Pacific, called a first of its kind Senior Leader Engagement Strategic Plan and groundbreaking strategic capstone document to marshal "Whole of the United States Government" efforts to secure peace and prosperity in the theater. At the end of his Navy tour of duty, Futrell stayed in Hawaii as Executive Vice President of Hawaii Gas, a division of Macquarie Infrastructure Company, the natural gas utility company servicing the major islands in Hawaii.

Public service

Futrell was elected in 1996 to the City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council, representing District 8, and served from 1997 to 2000. Futrell was named as one of Baton Rouge Business Report's "40 Under 40" rising stars in Baton Rouge.

Futrell was elected in 1999 to the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 66, representing approximately 42,500 residents in East Baton Rouge Parish, and was reelected in 2003. Journalist John Maginnis said that Futrell was well-liked and well-regarded. In 2002 Futrell received the "Golden Apple Legislators Support of Education" award. In 2004, he received the Louisiana Municipal Association Leadership Award, and in 2005 received the Louisiana Family Forum Legislative Advocate Award. During his tenure Futrell fought for dedicated funding for Louisiana State University as the state's only flagship university, and created the state's first prescription drug cost assistance program for senior citizens. He left the House of Representatives during his second term to become the State Director for then freshman U.S. Senator David Vitter.

In 2008, after leaving U.S. Senator Vitter's staff, Futrell joined the administration of Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden. Then CAO Walter Monsour said that Futrell immediately earned his trust through the handling of the city-parish $1.2 billion sewer program. Monsour describes 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.

In 2014, Futrell relocated to South San Francisco, California, to become the city's City Manager. He reorganized city staff, hiring a new Assistant City Manager, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Director of Economic and Community Development, Finance Director, Human Resources Director, Communications Director and IT Manager. South San Francisco Mayor Rich 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 a really dynamic individual.” Garbarino cited Futrell’s vision in hiring new personnel such as Police Chief Jeff Azzopardi, further establishing the city as a hub of biotechnology and working to improve the quality of life in South San Francisco among his successes as the city’s top official. “He’s been very good about forward thinking and thinking out of the box,” said Garbarino. “He’s like a breath of fresh air.” “We believe we have the right individual to guide us to the new South City that is coming around,” he said. “We’ve got a good guy at the helm here.” Vice Mayor Pradeep Gupta said he has been impressed with Futrell’s success in overseeing a variety of projects integral to the future development of South San Francisco, instilling faith he is the right person to lead the city forward. “I’m very pleased with the way City Manager Mike Futrell has worked and shown the progress, enthusiasm and energy for our city,” he said. Gupta cited Futrell’s recent ability to aid the transfer from Shorenstein Properties to Greenland Group of the development agreement for more than 2 million square feet of biotechnology research and development space at Oyster Point that had grown stagnant as a prime example of his prowess as a leader. “Mike worked behind the scenes to make that happen very capably,” said Gupta. “All these things are going to take a lot of attention at the same time, and he’s been able to manage the multitasking very well,” said Gupta. “I’m very, very pleased with his performance.”