Jonathan D. Sarubbi has been appointed regional director of Region III in Philadelphia for the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Sarubbi, who officially joins FEMA on March 18, will be responsible for coordinating FEMA mitigation, preparedness and disaster response and recovery activities in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

"Part of my vision for the new FEMA is building a strong team of leaders with decades of emergency management and other related experience," FEMA Director R. David Paulison said in a statement. "… We now have permanent directors in all 10 regions of the country."

Prior to joining FEMA, Sarubbi was vice president of marine operations for the International Registries, Maritime and Corporate Administrators of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

During a 26-year U.S. Coast Guard career that ended in 2005, Sarubbi held a variety of leadership positions of increasing responsibility. He directed strategic planning, day-to-day operations, training, exercises and logistics.