Albert Bryan Jr. was born on February 21, 1968, on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, to Albert Sr. and Genevieve (Pilgrim) Bryan. He is the eldest of five sons and grew up in the Savan neighborhood of Charlotte Amalie before moving to St. Croix during his teenage years. Bryan graduated from St. Dunstan’s Episcopal High School in 1985 and later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Wittenberg University in 1989. He furthered his education by obtaining an MBA from the University of the Virgin Islands in 2003.
His professional journey includes significant roles in both the private and public sectors. Prior to his political career, Bryan worked at HESS Oil Corporation, the Virgin Islands Housing Authority, and Innovative Communications. In 2002, he co-founded Generation Now! Inc., a non-profit focused on political and social education, mentorship, and community service. His public service career took a notable turn when he was appointed Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Labor in 2007 by Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr., a position he held until 2015. During this time, he was instrumental in implementing the Jobs for America’s Graduates Initiative and securing substantial federal funding for training and unemployment benefits post-Hovensa Refinery closure.
In 2018, Bryan announced his candidacy for Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, selecting Senator Tregenza A. Roach as his running mate. They won the Democratic primary with 39.23% of the vote, defeating other notable candidates. Their campaign focused on economic recovery, infrastructure modernization, education, healthcare, crime reduction, and poverty alleviation, including attracting rum distilleries to support the Government Employees Retirement System (GERS). Bryan and Roach went on to win the general election and a subsequent runoff against incumbent Governor Kenneth Mapp, securing 55% of the vote, making Bryan the ninth elected Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands since January 2019.
As Governor, Bryan has been recognized for his efforts in economic revitalization, particularly post-Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, leading a $15 billion recovery effort to rebuild and fortify the territory’s infrastructure. He has also been pivotal in addressing the financial stability of the GERS, one of the most underfunded public pension systems in the U.S., through strategic reforms. His administration has seen the implementation of programs like the V.I. Slice homeownership initiative and legislative actions such as the Virgin Islands Medicinal Cannabis Patient Care Act, which he signed into law in 2019, emphasizing his support for alternative medical treatments.
Bryan’s tenure has included various legislative achievements, like amending laws to merge Fire Services with EMS and advocating for extended terms for the Attorney General. His governance has been marked by a focus on community service and empowerment, notably through his involvement with Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) and his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi.
