The Deepwater Horizon
Oil Spill Response
Communications and Community Engagement in a Time of Crisis
On April 22nd, 2010 the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded 50 miles off the coast of Louisiana. For the next 87 days, oil leaked into the Gulf of Mexico and impacted communities throughout the Gulf Coast.
Jason French served in several key leadership roles throughout the oil spill response - including Chief Public Information Officer at the Incident Command Center. He went on to lead the public response in Grand Isle, Louisiana – the epicenter of the spill. Jason implemented a number of innovative programs to meet community needs - including a youth employment program and a community engagement program that served as a model for the entire Gulf Coast.
Jason has given speeches across the country on lessons learned from the spill response.