Travis Tran
San Rafael
Summary
Analytical and communication-driven professional with a background in external affairs, social media monitoring, and project analysis in high-stakes government environments. Experienced in tracking public sentiment, analyzing policy data, and producing clear, impactful written content for both internal stakeholders and public audiences. Skilled in eligibility assessment, cross-functional coordination, and leveraging insights to support strategic messaging and outreach efforts. Combines a strong understanding of regulatory frameworks with a creative approach to audience engagement and digital communication.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
External Affairs Specialist
Department of Homeland Security Agency Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - Region IX
Oakland
11.2024 - 05.2025
- Leverage Bullion Search to effectively pinpoint and collect pertinent news articles for integration in daily media reports.
- Analyze local LA and national media outlets to identify news on wildfire-related topics, including government response, hazardous material safety, sheltering, housing, and environmental impact.
- Create captivating X (Twitter) posts incorporating relevant hashtags, keywords, emojis, and official FEMA graphical assets to boost visibility and engagement
- Observe and assess current weather conditions across FEMA Region 9 territories to strategically organize and launch X posts, facilitating timely and effective communication during critical events.
- Acquired skills in media and social listening to analyze public responses to agency initiatives.
Focused on understanding public sentiment while adhering to posting rights and organizational boundaries.
Ensured responsible messaging when addressing sensitive topics during strategic communication efforts. - Contribute to daily team meetings by providing updates, sharing progress, and maintaining alignment on ongoing projects and priorities.
Emergency Management Specialist
Department of Homeland Security Agency Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - Region IX
Oakland
10.2023 - 11.2024
- Delivered technical guidance to state, local, tribal, and territorial partners through drafting comprehensive response letters that interpreted FEMA Grant Fund regulations, ensuring adherence to federal guidelines and clarifying programmatic determinations.
- Evaluated key regulatory documents, including eCFR, Stafford Act, and PAPPG, to extract eligibility criteria.
Articulated Time Extensions and small project Final Inspection Reports requirements to external stakeholders.
Supported accurate approval criteria identification for disaster projects with focused regulatory analysis.
Enhanced decision-making processes by ensuring clarity in communications regarding eligibility standards. - Performed post-award monitoring by analyzing project scopes using the Emergency Management Mission Integrated Environment (EMMIE) system, assessing the completion status of disaster projects, and verifying compliance with grant requirements.
- Evaluated Scope of Work and application documents for project closeout or time extension determinations.
Developed justifications for decisions, offering clear recommendations to senior leadership.
Assessed project eligibility dates to enhance understanding of program effectiveness and future actions.
Presented detailed analyses of project requests to ensure informed supervisory decisions. - Reviewed P.4 documents to conduct a comprehensive cost analysis, ensuring all expenditures aligned with project objectives and approved funding.
- Analyzed total project cost in relation to funding requests, uncovering discrepancies and verifying compliance with regulations regarding fund usage.
- Ensured compliance with federal regulations, policies, and Stafford Act requirements in grants management and project closeout.
- Participated in team meetings to discuss ongoing projects, internal communication strategies, and coordination with external stakeholders.
- Assessed incoming correspondence to verify recipient justifications for project extensions and funding modifications, maintaining compliance with federal grant regulations.
- Fostered internal and external communication to enhance collaboration among recipients, grants management, and compliance team.
- Composed and evaluated formal response letters to recipients, clearly detailing determinations on time extension requests and closeout eligibility per PAPPG guidelines.
- Deciphered and relayed complex federal regulations to substantiate approvals or denials, confirming recipients recognized rationale behind grants decisions.
- Collaborated with internal teams to ensure consistency in policy interpretation and communication across multiple projects.
- Developed and issued official FEMA communications addressing applicants' Time Extension (TE) requests and project determinations, ensuring alignment with FEMA's disaster assistance policies.
- Delivered daily project status briefings to Public Assistance Closeout Team, showcasing team proficiency and operational efficiency to internal stakeholders and across FEMA Regions.
- Performed daily assessments in Accountability Tracking System (ATS) and Deployment Tracking System (DTS) to validate in-office attendance and maintain personal safety
- Engaged in in-person meetings with applicant representatives from Guam to address emergency management initiatives and strengthen communication strategies concerning recovery eligibility for public
Accounting/Payroll Intern
Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District
San Rafael
06.2019 - 08.2019
- Coordinated collection and analysis of travel expense data from multiple sources.
Resolved discrepancies and inaccuracies to ensure precise database entries using Excel functions.
Facilitated timely updates to stakeholders for accurate tracking of total expenses.
Expedited reimbursement process by enhancing efficiency in data communication. - Compiled and delivered comprehensive weekly reports to supervisors, detailing tracked expenses and resolutions for issues.
Communicated key insights and updates to ensure informed decision-making by supervisors. - Leveraged in-depth knowledge of policy on leave availability, hourly position limits, and fund usage to monitor invoice content and audit for potential misuse of government funds. Communicated findings and recommendations clearly to ensure proper use of funds and adherence to regulations.
- Created a systematic filing system for agency invoices and related documents to enhance efficiency.
Ensured successful adoption of new processes by clearly communicating system structure to team members.
Improved document retrieval times through effective organization and management of agency records. - Presented insights from internship during weekly discussions with United Way staff and interns.
Facilitated effective communication to exchange updates and promote collaboration.
Contributed to project impact through active participation and sharing of experiences. - Collaborated with Accounting and Payroll departments through travel between two offices.
Acquired understanding of communication patterns between departments.
Improved skills for facilitating effective interdepartmental interactions.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communication
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA, United States06.2023
Skills
- Grants management and coordination
- Communication and documentation
- Financial analysis and reporting
- Stakeholder engagement and collaboration
- Regulatory compliance and understanding
Affiliations
- United States Bowling Congress (USBC) - Bowling Tournament Recognitions - 2016 USBC California Pepsi Youth and 2016 Nor Cal USBC State
- Boys Scouts of America (BSA) - BSA Eagle Scout Rank
Training
- IS-100c: Introduction to the Incident Command System
- IS-200c: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
- IS-0700.b: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
- IS-800d: National Response Framework, An Introduction
- IS-1000: Public Assistance Program and Eligibility
- IS-1009: Conditions of the Public Assistance Grant
- PA Program Delivery Manager (PDMG) Training 7116
- PA Site Inspector (SISP) Training 7117
Certification
- Introduction to Data, DataCamp — Completed [May 2025]
Language Skills
English
Full Professional
Japanese
Limited
Timeline
External Affairs Specialist
Department of Homeland Security Agency Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - Region IX
11.2024 - 05.2025
Emergency Management Specialist
Department of Homeland Security Agency Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - Region IX
10.2023 - 11.2024
Accounting/Payroll Intern
Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District
06.2019 - 08.2019
Bachelor of Arts - Communication
University of California, Davis
Similar Profiles
Indira WilsonIndira Wilson
Individual Assistant (Reservist) at Department Of Homeland Security (DHS)- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Individual Assistant (Reservist) at Department Of Homeland Security (DHS)- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
SARAH E. WASZAKSARAH E. WASZAK
Management and Program Analyst at U.S. Department of Homeland Security | Federal Emergency Management AgencyManagement and Program Analyst at U.S. Department of Homeland Security | Federal Emergency Management Agency
James AbellJames Abell
Lead Personnel Security Specialist (Adjudicator) at U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management AgencyLead Personnel Security Specialist (Adjudicator) at U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency
Rubi CardenasRubi Cardenas
Volunteer at Church Youth GroupVolunteer at Church Youth Group
Johnny RoumanJohnny Rouman
Capital Markets Intern at SRSCapital Markets Intern at SRS