Red Cross Picks Chief of Disaster Services

Ted McCaleb, a retired Army officer who served in Vietnam, Korea and Europe, has been appointed director of disaster services for the Ventura County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

McCaleb, who spent the last 2 1/2 years serving as disaster services manager for the Commission on Human Concerns of Ventura County, replaces Richard Rink, who left the agency last year.

“I’m a retired Army type,” McCaleb said Friday.

“I’ve worked in disaster preparedness for the last 2 1/2 years, and I just really enjoy that work. It can be a high-pressure atmosphere, but I handle that well. I’ve done the stress thing before.”

In the military, McCaleb served as an infantry, supply and logistics officer, including during two combat tours in Vietnam.

While with the Commission on Human Concerns, McCaleb helped county government officials and ham radio operators install communications systems and also helped open an emergency operations center in Piru.

McCaleb, who assumed his new post just before Christmas, said he has been busy attending disaster classes to learn the Red Cross’ institutional procedures, as well as how the Red Cross fits into state and county disaster plans.