Jessica “Jessi” Nalepa currently serves as the Director of the Office of External Affairs for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Prior to this position, she served as the Director of Congressional Affairs for FEMA. In this role she served as the Agency’s principal liaison with the U.S. Congress and was responsible for coordinating and overseeing the Agency’s legislative strategy. Moreover, she worked closely with authorization and oversight committees of jurisdiction in the House and Senate to ensure that the Agency’s and Department’s priorities were reflected throughout the legislative and oversight process.
Prior to joining FEMA, Jessi spent nearly seven years on Capitol Hill. She culminated her Capitol Hill career by serving as the Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman Michael T. McCaul (TX-10), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Jessi grew up in Chesapeake, VA and is a graduate of George Mason University with a Bachelor of Arts in Government & International Politics and a minor in Political Communication. A loyal George Mason Patriot, she also holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University’s Schar School of Policy and Government with a focus in national security and economic policy.