St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands – The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) announces the retirement of Deputy Director of Grants Management Florecita Brunn, who has dedicated 30 years of exemplary service to the Government of the Virgin Islands, with the past seven years devoted to VITEMA.
Deputy Director Brunn began her distinguished career in public service with the Department of Human Services, where she spent more than two decades building her expertise in federal grants management and developing critical relationships with federal funding agencies. Her work at DHS laid the foundation for what would become an invaluable skillset in navigating the complex landscape of federal emergency management funding.
In 2019, Deputy Director Brunn brought her wealth of knowledge and experience to VITEMA, stepping into the role of Deputy Director of Grants Management at a critical time for the territory. Having witnessed the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, she understood the vital importance of maintaining strong federal partnerships and ensuring the Virgin Islands had access to the resources needed for both recovery and future preparedness.
As VITEMA’s principal liaison for federal grant management, Deputy Director Brunn became the territory’s bridge to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security. She served as the primary contact between VITEMA, the Department of Human Services, and federal funding agencies, ensuring that millions of dollars in critical support flowed to the Virgin Islands when it was needed most.
Deputy Director Brunn’s expertise proved instrumental in securing and managing numerous federal grant programs, including the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG), Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants, cybersecurity enhancement funding, and disaster recovery allocations. Her deep understanding of Department of Homeland Security grant regulations, compliance requirements, and reporting standards helped position VITEMA to receive and properly steward multi-million dollar annual allocations.
Throughout her tenure at VITEMA, Deputy Director Brunn demonstrated an unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability. She appeared before the V.I. Legislature to provide detailed testimony on grant timelines, funding availability, and the complexities of federal compliance requirements. Her ability to clearly explain intricate federal regulations to territorial leadership helped bridge the gap between federal expectations and local implementation.
Beyond the numbers and regulations, Deputy Director Brunn understood that federal grants represented more than just funding—they represented hope, resilience, and the promise of a safer, more prepared Virgin Islands. Whether coordinating emergency management performance grants that funded critical VITEMA personnel, or managing cybersecurity grants aimed at protecting government infrastructure, her work touched every aspect of the territory’s emergency preparedness landscape.
Deputy Director Brunn’s institutional knowledge, cultivated over 30 years of public service, made her an irreplaceable resource for understanding the nuances of federal-territorial partnerships. Her journey from DHS to VITEMA reflected a career built on dedication, expertise, and an enduring commitment to serving the people of the Virgin Islands.
VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen state, “From 2019 through 2025 Deputy Director Brunn administered seven federal grant programs totaling $20.3 million dollars. Agencies such as VI Police, VI Fire and EMS, VI Waste Management Authority, Department of Justice, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Water and Power Authority, Department of Health, Fusion Center, and of course, VITEMA all benefited from her overwatch and interpretation of the federal terms and conditions, which often change from year-to-year. She personally conducted excellent outreach programs to the faith-based community on the Nonprofit Security Grant program.
He added, “She is well respected with our federal grant partners and any on-site visits to VITEMA to review our grant management programs were well received. Deputy Director Brunn ran a tight ship, and I thank her for that. She always shared her knowledge to maximize our use of federal funds throughout the Territory.
As Deputy Director Brunn closes this chapter of service, she leaves behind a legacy of professionalism, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the Virgin Islands community. Her work has ensured that critical federal resources were available when the territory needed them most—during hurricanes, through recovery efforts, and in building resilience for future challenges.
The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency extends its deepest gratitude to Deputy Director Florecita Brunn for three decades of exemplary service to the people of the Virgin Islands. Her contributions will continue to benefit the territory for years to come.
