Rafaela Monchek serves as the Senior Advisor to the Secretary on Emergency Management, providing guidance and building consensus on emergency management and resiliency issues across the Department. She also assists in developing and implementing strategic vision across the Agency. During her tenure at the Department of Homeland Security, Rafaela has served in many capacities across FEMA, including the Chief of Operations for the Mission Support Bureau, Special Assistant to the Acting Deputy Administrator, Deputy Director of the interagency National Disaster Housing Task Force, and the Applicant Services Manager for the Maryland National Processing Service Center.

Rafaela began her federal career with the Department of the Interior’s South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, where she was responsible for coordinating federal and non-federal Everglades restoration projects. In 2005, following Hurricane Katrina, Rafaela joined the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a Disaster Assistance Employee, and facilitated access to federal assistance for disaster survivors in Mississippi. In December 2006, Rafaela accepted the opportunity to join FEMA headquarters staff in Washington, DC, as a Senior Program Specialist for Housing Assistance Policy.

Rafaela has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from the University of Florida, and remains an avid Florida Gator fan. She also earned a Master of Science degree from Florida International University in Environmental Science. Rafaela lives in Washington, DC with her rescue dog, Quincey.