U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has announced the nomination of Joel Lee to serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission, succeeding Chairman Marvin Pickering, who is retiring from public service.
Governor Bryan said Lee brings the financial expertise, leadership experience, and steady judgment needed to lead one of the Territory’s most important regulatory bodies.
“Joel Lee is a serious professional, a respected financial leader, and a public servant who understands the importance of accountability, sound oversight, and public trust,” Governor Bryan said. “He brings a strong record of management, regulatory experience, and fiscal discipline to this role, and I am confident he is prepared to lead the Casino Control Commission with integrity and competence.”
Lee currently serves as Director of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue, where he oversees the Territory’s primary tax collection agency across multiple islands and provides financial guidance to executive branch agencies, Government House, and the Legislature. In that role, he has helped strengthen tax collection initiatives, improve administration, and ensure compliance with the federal mirror code.
A certified public accountant, Lee has built a career spanning both public service and private practice. His background includes leadership in accounting, auditing, budgeting, forecasting, tax administration, financial reporting, compliance, and operational controls. Before his appointment as BIR Director, he operated his own CPA firm serving individual, corporate, and governmental clients, and also served as a financial analyst at the Bureau of Internal Revenue. His private sector experience includes senior financial management roles as controller and project controller, where he oversaw budgeting, cash management, reporting, tax compliance, and financial operations.
Lee holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting from Bucknell University and a Master of Accountancy from the University of the Virgin Islands. He is also affiliated with several professional organizations, including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Virgin Islands Society of CPAs, where he has served in leadership.
Governor Bryan thanked outgoing Chairman Marvin Pickering for his service to the people of the Virgin Islands and said the nomination reflects the administration’s continued commitment to strong institutional leadership and responsible governance.
“The Casino Control Commission plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of gaming regulation in the Virgin Islands,” Governor Bryan said. “This nomination reflects our commitment to placing qualified, capable, and principled leadership in positions that matter to the public and to the future of our economy.”
Lee’s nomination will be submitted to the Legislature for advice and consent.
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