For many, they don’t find the emergency management field, it finds them. For Greg Jackson, Account Executive for the Government vertical at Veoci, this proved to be true.
What began as a spontaneous response to a natural disaster in the Philippines evolved into a decade-long journey of service, spanning continents, crises, and communities. His experience is not only a testament to professional resilience but also a powerful reminder of the human impact behind the work.
A Sudden Introduction to a Lifelong Mission
Greg’s first step into emergency response came in 2013 when a typhoon devastated the Philippines. His brother was already on the ground with a group providing medical assistance and needed extra hands. Greg, with some basic first responder training from his earlier conservation and trailbuilding work and AmeriCorps service, flew in on New Year’s Day. The devastation was overwhelming, but it sparked something.
“I was intrigued and enthralled by it,” he recalled. “It felt like good work.”
That experience led him to the American Refugee Committee, where he pivoted to a more formal role supporting humanitarian efforts. Within months, he was stationed in Uganda, working directly in refugee camps to ensure that field operations ran smoothly, from logistics and HR to policy navigation and community support. It was, as Greg described, his first deep dive into both international development and emergency coordination.
Local Response and Learning the FEMA Playbook
After nearly a year abroad, Greg returned to the U.S. just as catastrophic floods hit Boulder County, Colorado. He landed a job with the county, playing an integral part in flood recovery, supporting everything from household case management to federal project coordination.
Over five years, Greg developed a fluency in FEMA operations and public assistance programs, mastering the intricacies of local, state, and federal coordination. “Recovery can take an awful long time,” he noted. “Ten years later, they’re still working on closeout.”
This realism would shape his work moving forward, especially when consulting with other jurisdictions.
A Consultant Across Catastrophes
For the next five years, Greg consulted for governments across the U.S. from Oregon wildfires to Florida hurricanes, and of course, the COVID-19 pandemic. He worked with over a dozen disaster events, often managing the response and reimbursement side.
His consulting work also exposed him to the patchwork of emergency software tools. While he hadn’t previously worked with Veoci, he encountered many pen-and-paper systems, which made the power of platforms that aid in disaster response, recovery and mitigation all the more clear.
What Keeps Him Going
Emergency management is not for the faint of heart. So what keeps someone in such a high-stakes, high-stress profession?
“There’s kind of a rush element to it,” Greg admitted. But more importantly, it’s about public service.
“Even in this indirect role, I know what it’s like in the EOC. If we can help responders and municipalities react faster and recover better, that’s a win.”
Whether it’s ensuring maximum FEMA reimbursement or streamlining search and rescue operations, Greg sees every improvement as a way to help people, sometimes directly, often through better tools and systems.
Advice to the Next Generation of EM’s
For those just discovering the field, Greg recommends starting with FEMA’s ICS (Incident Command System) training. They’re accessible, build foundational knowledge, and they look great on a resume. But more than that, he urges young professionals to get involved locally through joining a Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster or other similar organizations.
He also recommends Team Rubicon, a veteran-focused disaster response group that welcomes civilians. Greg volunteers with them in his spare time doing post-disaster cleanups and wildfire mitigation work. “It’s a good way to meet people, do good work, and help others.”
Final Thoughts
Greg Jackson’s journey from international relief efforts to municipal recovery and now technology-driven solutions is the picture of a career built on service, adaptability, and impact. As disasters grow in scale and complexity, the field will need more professionals like him, those who’ve been on the ground, understand the systems, and want to make them better.
Whether you’re an aspiring emergency manager or just discovering the field, his story offers a compelling roadmap: follow the work that matters—and stay ready.
