- Pritzker Fellows
- Current Fellows
- Justin Ángel Knighten
Justin Ángel Knighten
Former Associate Administrator with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Office Hours & Seminars
Coming Soon
Biography
Justin is a nationally recognized crisis, risk and political communications expert, strategist, storyteller, and advocate for solutions to address the climate crisis. With a career based on cross-sector and issue area experience, Justin is driven by navigating complex challenges through establishing innovative partnerships, leading teams, and leveraging cutting-edge communications trends to yield results.
As a former senior official in the Biden-Harris Administration, Justin led FEMA’s Office of External Affairs, a nearly 200-person team with several divisions including communications, disaster operations, public affairs, intergovernmental affairs, tribal affairs, congressional affairs, private sector engagement, as well as the Ready and Listo Campaign, the nation’s all-hazard preparedness public outreach and education initiative. Additionally, his office managed a nearly 500-person cadre of external affairs reservists who deployed year-round into communities impacted by disasters declared by the President of the United States.
Previously, Justin served as co-chair of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s groundbreaking $50 million disaster preparedness campaign, called Listos California, which transformed how government engages and prepares historically vulnerable populations. Housed within the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), the campaign continues to ready at-risk Californians statewide for wildfires, earthquakes, and beyond.
In 2024, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) named Justin the national Public Relations Professional of the Year. A lifelong advocate for equity and human rights, Justin’s expertise has earned him recognition as a leading LGBTQ+ figure in national security and foreign policy. After leading communications at FEMA to support President Biden’s ambitious and successful goal to vaccinate the nation from COVID-19, he was recognized by PRWeek as a 40 under 40 forward-thinking current and future leader of the PR industry. Justin is currently a Truman National Security Project Fellow. Finally, as a California native and the grandson of immigrants from Mexico, Justin brings his experience, background, and culture into every aspect of solving big problems for the nation.
Seminars
“Restoring Faith in Democracy Through the Natural Disaster Lifecycle”