Susan Phalen

Former 
director of communications—
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Sessions:

Susan Phalen was most recently the director of external affairs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Previously, she was communications director for the House Homeland Security Committee, and before that, the House Intelligence Committee. She holds a TS/SCI security clearance and tackles the daily challenge of protecting classified national security information while at the same time effectively communicating the committees’ legislative priorities and oversight responsibilities. In 2005, she was tapped by the Secretary of State to draft and implement the U.S. communications strategy for national elections in Iraq. She deployed to Iraq nine times and was awarded the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service and a Department of State Award for Public Service. @SaPOTUS