Bryan Picks Retired National Guardsman To Lead VITEMA

Virgin Islands National Guard  (V.I.N.G.) Veteran Col. Daryl Jaschen on Friday was named director of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) by Governor Albert Bryan, Government House has announced.

According to the release, Col. Jaschen, who is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, and the U.S. Army War College, is a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Army and served as V.I.N.G. Army Chief of Staff prior to his retirement from the Virgin Islands National Guard in 2016.

The release said during his tenure at V.I.N.G., Col. Jaschen served in various capacities relating to emergency preparedness and response. He served as management representative with FEMA Region II and played an integral role in the development of FEMA’s USVI Hurricane and Earthquake/ Tsunami Standard Operating Procedures.

And while at V.I.N.G., Col. Jaschen also provided VITEMA with National Guard support readiness and maintained situational awareness on support requirements and served as a management representative at the agency’s monthly Emergency Management meetings, according to the release. Col. Jsachen also served as management representative for Pre-Scripted Mission Assignment development with FEMA Region II’s Defense Coordinating Element, Government House said.

“I am happy to announce Col. Jaschen as VITEMA director. He has an impressive career history and is someone who analyses program and system issues and implements policy and process changes,” Mr. Bryna said. “He understands organizational readiness and disaster response, and he knows how to connect our local operations with the Department of Defense and other federal resources. Col. Jaschen is a key component of our public safety strategy and will work closely with our incoming Territorial Adjutant General to ensure our territory’s preparation and response to disasters.”

Col. Jaschen currently volunteers as a VITEMA ESF-2 Communications Operator and has been actively involved in tactical communications recovery efforts with FEMA, VITEMA, the Bureau of Information Technology (BIT) and the Virgin Islands National Guard, according to the release.

Since his retirement, he has continued his engagement with VITEMA and FEMA and has completed ICS300 and ICS400 training courses, Common Operational Picture, and Situational Awareness training and a VITEMA/ FEMA Table Top Exercise, Government House said.