Maggie Holmes
Littleton
Summary
Dynamic professional known for exceptional crisis management, continuity of operations and performance optimization skills. Successfully led FEMA's largest disaster recovery operation, driving strategic initiatives that improved organizational resilience and ensured operational continuity during national emergencies. Two-time recipient of FEMA's most influential "Administrator's Award."
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Supervisory Program Analyst - Readiness and Continuity Branch Chief
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
Washington D.C.
05.2023 - Current
- Developed FEMA’s first agency-specific criteria for Mission Essential and Business Essential Systems, enabling prioritized IT system recovery aligned with DHS Policy 4300A, and significantly strengthening FEMA’s continuity of operations and emergency response readiness.
- Architected an organizational resilience framework that boosted operational efficiency by 35% and minimized critical system downtime by 60%.
- Analyzed emergency management and continuity program data to identify trends and issues.
- Coordinated the creation of training materials for emergency management and continuity personnel.
- Facilitated workshops to enhance team collaboration and communication skills.
- Spearheaded strategic initiatives that significantly enhanced the agency's capacity to serve 330 million Americans during national emergencies.
- Formulated and executed a comprehensive talent strategy, resulting in a 45% decrease in critical position vacancies, and a 30% increase in employee engagement scores.
- Established strategic partnerships with Fortune 500 technology companies, accelerating innovation adoption, and securing $12M in private sector resources.
- Engineered a continuity of operations framework that ensured no mission-critical failures during multiple concurrent national emergencies and disruptions.
- Implemented risk assessment strategies to identify potential vulnerabilities.
- Managed cross-departmental communication to align continuity and readiness efforts.
- Conducted regular drills to test and improve response protocols.
Strategic Planning and Innovation Lead
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
Washington D.C.
01.2022 - 05.2023
- Pioneered an emerging technology adoption strategy for federal disaster response operations, positioning FEMA as a leader in government innovation.
- Created and led a cross-agency innovation council consisting of senior executives to implement emerging technology in continuity of operations and emergency response.
- Fully qualified Information Technology Coordination Unit Lead.
- Developed the FEMA Service Branch Coordination Unit Leader (CDUL) position, defining role responsibilities, and creating a professional development framework.
- Constructed a comprehensive OCIO Planning Cell structure to enhance disaster response coordination by optimizing organizational resources and technical capabilities.
Hurricane Maria Deputy Recovery Coordinator
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
Puerto Rico
12.2017 - 01.2022
- Navigated progressively senior roles, leading the federal government's largest disaster recovery operation in history, managing combined budgets exceeding $120M, and teams of over 500 professionals.
- Transformed disparate recovery efforts into a cohesive strategic initiative to restore critical infrastructure for 3.2 million citizens.
- Exhibited exceptional leadership amid ambiguity, maintaining a strategic focus on sustainable, long-term outcomes.
- Orchestrated the hiring and development of a workforce exceeding 500 individuals.
- Negotiated and managed relationships with the Commonwealth government, 78 municipalities, and private sector partners to accelerate recovery timelines.
- Designed and implemented a strategic communications recovery roadmap for Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Maria, promoting infrastructure rebuilding and community engagement initiatives.
- Directed the seamless relocation and operational continuity of the FEMA Joint Recovery Office in Puerto Rico during the COVID-19 emergence, maintaining critical recovery services while establishing a pandemic response framework.
Strategic Planning and Innovation Lead
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
Washington D.C.
10.2016 - 12.2017
- Spearheaded a strategy for integrating emerging technologies into federal disaster response operations, establishing FEMA's reputation as a leader in governmental innovation.
- Fully qualified Information Technology Coordination Unit Lead, ensuring effective IT operations.
- Developed strategic plans to enhance disaster response and recovery efforts.
- Analyzed data to identify trends and inform strategic planning decisions.
- Managed resource allocation for national disaster response programs.
Planning Section Chief - Regional Incident Management Assistance Team
FEMA
Denver
02.2007 - 10.2016
- Advanced through strategic planning and operational leadership roles, culminating in regional leadership responsibilities for multi-state emergency operations.
- Led strategic planning efforts for over 30 federally declared disasters that affected more than 50 million Americans across 16 states.
- Fully qualified Type II Planning Section Chief, specializing in incident management and operational oversight.
- Spearheaded a cross-functional analysis working group that enhanced the agency's data analytics and visualization capabilities.
- Played a key role in the foundational committee that developed the FEMA Qualification Systems (FQS) framework, and a strategic implementation methodology for agency-wide deployment.
Education
Executive Leadership Program - Puerto Rico
Naval Post Graduate Academy
Puerto Rico12.2018
ICS Advanced Professional Series - Alabama
Emergency Management Institute
Alabama12.2014
Associates Degree - Emergency Management Planning
Red Rocks Community College
Colorado12.2012
Skills
- Strategic vision
- P&L management
- Digital transformation
- Innovation leadership
- Strategic planning
- Implementation
- Performance optimization
- Change management
- Crisis management
- Continuous improvement
- Federal, state, and private sector relations
- Executive influence
- Succession planning
- culture transformation
- Leadership development
- Diversity and inclusion
- Predictive analytics
- AI-driven decision support systems
- Risk assessment
- Continuity planning
- Emergency management
- Program management
- Strategic partnerships
- Team leadership
- Effective communication
- Problem solving
- Team collaboration
- IT coordination
- Regulatory compliance
Timeline
Supervisory Program Analyst - Readiness and Continuity Branch Chief
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
05.2023 - Current
Strategic Planning and Innovation Lead
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
01.2022 - 05.2023
Hurricane Maria Deputy Recovery Coordinator
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
12.2017 - 01.2022
Strategic Planning and Innovation Lead
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
10.2016 - 12.2017
Planning Section Chief - Regional Incident Management Assistance Team
FEMA
02.2007 - 10.2016
Executive Leadership Program - Puerto Rico
Naval Post Graduate Academy
ICS Advanced Professional Series - Alabama
Emergency Management Institute
Associates Degree - Emergency Management Planning
Red Rocks Community College