Francisco Sánchez is the associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Assistance at the U.S. Small Business Administration. He’s an expert in disaster preparedness, public safety, emergency-alert technology and homeland security.

Previously, he was the deputy emergency management coordinator and liaison to the County Judge for the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management in Harris County, Texas. From 2004 to 2022, Sánchez served Harris County in emergency preparedness and response efforts. His work included responses to the coronavirus pandemic, Winter Storm Uri in 2021, and several severe flooding events, hurricanes and man-made threats. He led Super Bowl LI’s Traffic and Transportation Security Joint Information Center, and in 2017 served as the public information officer during Hurricane Harvey, the second-most costly hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland since 1900.

He has appeared at several conferences, including SXSW, the National Hurricane Conference and the National Conference of State Legislatures. He has been honored by Big City Emergency Managers, Emergency Management Magazine and the University of Houston.

Sánchez received his master’s in public administration at Sam Houston State University and his bachelor’s at the University of Houston with a certificate in public service leadership.

Photo by Amanda Faucett

Pronouns: He/him/his

Expertise: Disaster preparedness, public safety, emergency alerts, homeland security

Location: Washington, D.C.

SBA media inquiries 

Twitter: @F_SanchezJr

Heard on KHOU 11: “Harris County emergency management monitoring rolling blackouts, dangerous road conditions”