Bob Jensen has been appointed a Public Director on the American Institute of Architects’ 2026 Board of Directors, a role he announced this week as the organization prepares for a year focused on climate action, community resilience, and disaster risk management.
Jensen brings more than three decades of federal service and crisis leadership to the AIA board, offering a public-sector perspective that aligns closely with the organization’s work at the intersection of design, resilience, and public safety. His career spans senior roles across the White House, the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense, where he coordinated disaster response, strategic communications, and long-term resilience planning across agencies and jurisdictions.
Currently, Jensen is the senior managing director of Strat3, a consulting firm that advises governments, corporations, and international development organizations on crisis management, emergency preparedness, and strategic engagement.
Jensen also serves as President of the Emergency Management External Affairs Association (EMEAA), where he focuses on strengthening partnerships across government, industry, and nonprofit organizations to improve community resilience and professional readiness. His advisory work extends into academia, including service on design and policy advisory boards and engagement with programs focused on public affairs, risk, and the built environment.
Earlier in his career, Jensen held senior communications and external affairs roles at FEMA, including acting director and deputy director of the Office of External Affairs, where he oversaw public affairs, intergovernmental engagement, and private-sector coordination during major disaster responses. He also served at the National Security Council as assistant press secretary for foreign affairs and led communication operations for the Department of Defense in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa.
(AI was used in part to facilitate this article.)