Victoria Salinas

Victoria Salinas is currently the Deputy Administrator for Resilience (acting) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. From January 2017 to October 2021, they were the Vice President of Programs and Communications for the non-profit organization FUSE Corps.

At FUSE Corps, Salinas led the executive fellows program which was focused on increasing the capacity of local governments to engage communities, advance racial equity, and work more effectively for everyone. Victoria partnered with leaders from 35 cities and counties across the United States to support the successful implementation of over 200 projects on issues such as climate change, justice reform, affordable housing, inclusive economic development, and equitable access to transportation, healthcare, education, and other government services.

Under Salinas' leadership, the FUSE Corps community grew 4x in size. Victoria worked with experts to design new programming for fellows to advance racial equity and continued providing training in FUSE’s hallmark programming in human centered design, adaptive leadership, change management and innovation in government. Victoria provided project-related coaching to fellows, designed and facilitated workshops, and moderated roundtable sessions for government leaders.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and racial reckoning, Salinas assisted FUSE CEO John Legend to raise philanthropic funding for 50 equitable recovery projects. Victoria also led efforts to strengthen FUSE’s results management system to measure the individual and collective impact of projects, and integrate systems-change and equity indicators

Victoria Salinas has a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School with a focus in International Development & Program Evaluation. Victoria also has a BSFS from Georgetown University in International Politics and Peace Studies. Salinas attended Phillips Academy for their high school education.

They are on a team with Lori L. Moore-Merrell - U.S. Fire Administrator, Erik Hooks - Deputy Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency. Their manager is Deanne Criswell, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.