The Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking today announced the appointment of Melissa Bujeda to its Board of Directors, strengthening the organization’s statewide leadership with her extensive experience in law enforcement, victim-centered investigations, child welfare and public safety.
Appointed by the Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Bujeda currently serves as Director of Missing Persons and Offender Enforcement and Immigration Support with FDLE, where she oversees Florida’s Missing Endangered Person Investigative Clearinghouse and the statewide registries for sexual predators, offenders and career offenders. In this role, she leads statewide efforts to locate missing individuals, enforce offender compliance and support immigration-related law enforcement initiatives across Florida.
She brings more than 25 years of law enforcement experience, including service with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, where she developed specialized expertise in child abuse, sex crimes, human trafficking and kidnapping investigations. She also led the agency’s communications efforts as spokeswoman under multiple sheriffs, earning international recognition for crisis communication and public relations excellence.
“Melissa Bujeda brings an extraordinary combination of investigative expertise, statewide public safety leadership and deep compassion for vulnerable children and families,” said Erin Collins, Executive Director of the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking. “Her experience working at the intersection of law enforcement, child protection and community engagement will be an incredible asset as we continue expanding training, awareness and prevention efforts across Florida.”
Prior to joining FDLE, Bujeda served as Director of Communications for the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office, an agency that represents the best interests of abused and neglected children in Florida’s foster care system. In that role, she spearheaded the statewide A Pathway to Promise initiative, connecting more than 800 foster youth aging out of care with community mentors.
“I am honored to join the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking and support its mission to educate, equip and mobilize communities across our state,” said Melissa Bujeda. “Throughout my career, I have seen how critical it is for law enforcement, service providers, advocates and the public to work together to identify victims, protect the vulnerable and hold traffickers accountable. I look forward to contributing to this important work.”
The Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking works statewide to prevent human trafficking through education, training, awareness and partnerships with public agencies, law enforcement, service providers, businesses and community organizations.
About the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking
The Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending human trafficking in Florida through statewide education, training, prevention and public awareness. The Alliance works with law enforcement, service providers, businesses, government agencies and community partners to help Floridians recognize the signs of human trafficking and report suspected cases.
