FEMA Announces Sarubbi Appointed Region III Regional Director

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Jonathan D. Sarubbi has been appointed regional director of Region III in Philadelphia for the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Director David Paulison announced today.

Mr. Sarubbi, who officially joins FEMA on March 18, 2007, will be responsible for coordinating FEMA mitigation, preparedness and disaster response and recovery activities in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

“Part of my vision for the new FEMA is building a strong team of leaders with decades of emergency management and other related experience,” Paulison said. “With Jon’s appointment, we now have permanent directors in all 10 regions of the country. He has a great background in crisis management, program management and homeland security, as well as knowledge of government safety, security and environmental regulations.”

Prior to joining FEMA, Mr. Sarubbi was vice president of marine operations for the International Registries, Maritime and Corporate Administrators of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

During a 26-year U.S. Coast Guard career that ended in 2005, Mr. Sarubbi held a variety of leadership positions of increasing responsibility. He directed strategic planning, day-to-day operations, training, exercises and logistics and managed multi-million-dollar budgets and Coast Guard facilities and property.

Mr. Sarubbi served as federal maritime security coordinator for eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware and coordinated maritime homeland security operations. He worked with federal, state and local law enforcement and first responder communities to gather and evaluate intelligence, conduct security boardings and harbor patrols, draft and exercise contingency plans and prepare for and respond to terrorist incidents.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Transportation from the State University of New York Maritime College and a Master’s degree in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.