Federal Approving Official (FAO)
Federal Approving Official (FAO) : "The FAO is a function as opposed to a position within one of the operational organizations. The FAO is a FEMA employee who is delegated the authority to approve and obligate funds for the mission assignment. The RRCC [Regional Response Coordination Center] Director and NRRC [National Response Coordination Center] Manager are delegated FAO signature authority as well as the Operations Section Chiefs at each location active in the response". (FEMA, Mission Assignment SOPs Operating Draft, 2007, 8)