Chief, Public Affairs, 75th U.S. Army Reserve Innovation Command

• Jan 2021 - Present

- Lead public affairs strategy/vision for 75th Innovation Command, the Army’s first command charged with combining Reserve soldiers’ unique blend of civilian skills and military expertise to accelerate and expand the adoption of new capabilities while acting as catalyst of change to improve readiness and solve tough, persistent problems of the entire Army. - Deliver strategic support and advisement to 2-star general officer as public-facing representative and journalist; prepare talking points for events, coordinate media coverage, and craft speeches, ensuring authentic voice in all pieces. - Partner with Army Futures Command to pioneer new technology utilization & power transformational initiatives. - Direct team of 3-5, shaping culture to be data-driven and on top of digital content trends to optimize engagement & leverage algorithms to team’s advantage. Promote continuous relationship building with cross-functional leaders. - Manage crisis communications in response to international & local incidents. - Review public-facing content and maintain innovation.army.mil, creating, editing, and publishing new content; ensure operational security through compliance and risk management work as well as securing bipartisan voice. Select Achievements: - Created public affairs program from the ground up, with sharper focus on social media utilization. Won approval of funding & shifted mindsets about public affairs to now being regarded as essential partner to the organization. - Transformed social media strategy to be multifaceted and robust using strategic storytelling campaigns. - Initiated first-ever Public Affairs Representative Course with standard operating procedures to provide extended training for junior staff, including social media kits to teach best practices in capturing images for events and more. - Created, edited, and disseminated command-wide Communications Plan. - Built Command’s new website, leveraging previous experience as Webmaster (2011-2015). Show less

Director of Public Affairs, 335th Signal Command (Theater) (U.S. Army Reserve)

• Sep 2019 - Jan 2021

- Promoted to lead public relations for 335th Signal Command (Theater) with 4.5K+ soldiers and civilians, serving as principal advisor to commanding general on communication strategy, innovative multimedia, and public outreach. - Spearheaded strategy promoting U.S. Army and Army Reserve activities in effort to increase reach, engagement, and excitement via PR, social media, marketing materials, digital content, and broadcast channels. - Collaborated with cross-team leaders and external stakeholders, such as local press, to author and approve press releases, opinion pieces, and grow calendar of interviews and other public-facing events. - Led five public affairs troops to create products aligned with strategic U.S. Army objectives, most notably in maintaining its reputation of being able to manage operations during peacetime, conflict, and war. Show less

Public Affairs Specialist

• Aug 2015 - Feb 2020

- Served as a civilian public affairs specialist for high-profile, 4-star general officer command that manages global supply chain and synchronizes global logistics for the entire U.S. Army and a 165K-strong workforce in all 50 states and 150 countries. - Spearheaded special project designing, editing, and managing contract for hard-copy printing and online publishing of 120-page annual resource guide, using InDesign, for audience of 5M+. - Contacted hundreds of internal SMEs to build and verify content. Authored numerous articles, edited, and designed page layouts/templates for resource guide that is still in use today. - Appointed as 4-star headquarters representative to conduct three Congressionally mandated Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) annual training exercises. CSEPP involves FEMA, the State of Colorado, the U.S. Army, the city of Pueblo, and other stakeholders in effort to strengthen residents’ ability to prepare for, respond, and recover from a chemical emergency. - Collaborated with counterparts to produce and edit new content to support PR initiatives, events promotion, and social media management, boosting engagement and awareness of command-wide news. - Tasked as content manager of command’s AFPIMS website; contributed to weekly internal newsletter for employees. - Honorable Mention for the “AMC Resource Guide” in the Printed Publications category (2018) in the Armywide Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware Competition and 1st place in the David G. Harris Competition (2018). - Won 1st Place for “AMC Today: Special Missions” in Funded News Publication in the Department of Defense Thomas Jefferson Awards (2016). - Earned Honorable Mention, Keith L. Ware Public Affairs Competition (2016). - Awarded 1st place, David G. Harris Competition (2016). - Editor of AMC Today, winner of the 2015 Keith L. Ware Public Affairs competition for an Army-funded magazine. - 3rd place winner of the 2015, DOD-wide Thomas Jefferson Awards, for funded magazine. Show less

Public Affairs Officer, Army Reserve Sustainment Command

• Aug 2015 - Sep 2019

- Promoted to principal public affairs advisor to the Army Reserve Sustainment Command’s 1-star general officer. - Wrote speeches, outlined talking points, and created media content for 700-soldier command dispersed across five states. Responsible for supporting global contracting and acquisitions. - Created interactive and print trifolds to highlight ARSC’s mission. - Led coordination of special event, “Meet Your Army,” highlighting the Army Reserve in Portland, Oregon; partnered with Chief of Army Reserve’s office and U.S. Army Recruiting Command to manage public affairs strategy, developing cohesive, compelling stories for media, academia, and industry audiences. Show less

Deputy Public Affairs Officer (U.S. Army Reserve)

• Aug 2013 - Aug 2015

- As deputy public affairs officer on the ground, conducted joint training mission in Bulgaria with U.S. Army Europe, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, the Bulgarian army, and others (2014) - Highlighted numerous 7th MSC training events with the German and British armies - Worked with public affairs chief to enhance the Command's social media presence from non-existent to one of the top audience engagement in the entire Department of Defense. - As also a Department of the Army Civilian living and working in the same Kaiserslautern community, was able to leverage experience, connections, and understanding of the local economy to enhance the Command's media efforts and coverage. (Unit is now the 7th Mission Support Command) Show less

Web Master and Public Affairs Specialist

• Jan 2013 - Aug 2015

- Transitioned to Webmaster/Photojournalist/Public Affairs Specialist role in 2013 to write, report on, and publish events, initiatives, and news to the largest presence of U.S. citizens (57K+) outside the U.S.: Kaiserslautern, Germany. - Spearheaded rebuild of two public-facing websites, improving the way troops, families, and the public got news and information about the region. - Led community relations and social media management for two commands. - Accepted opportunity to complete two years of coding and web development training through Cambridge University and then in Washington, D.C. Show less

Public Affairs Specialist, Herald Post Newspaper

• Apr 2011 - Jan 2013

- Managed layout, design, budgeting, contracting, editing, and writing of the weekly Keith L. Ware award-winning Herald Post in Heidelberg, Germany, with a distribution of 20K residents of now-closed installation, U.S. Army Garrison Baden-Württemberg. - Managed social media and community member chat group - Conducted several town halls, answering questions in real time while the installation prepared to close in 2013; stayed until the final week to ensure a smooth transition of buildings and equipment to the German government. Show less

Public Affairs Specialist

• May 2009 - Apr 2011

Brigade Chemical Officer/Public Affairs Officer (Active Duty)

• Jan 2005 - May 2009

Public Affairs Specialist, 314th Press Camp Headquarters

• May 1999 - Jun 2002

- Enlisted Public Affairs Soldier deployed to Afghanistan (first Army unit to deploy after 9/11) from November 2001-June 2002. - Managed the support of more than 75 civilian reporters from around the globe. - Wrote news releases and articles (Stars and Stripes, NY Times and Associated Press Wires). - Took photographs and supported the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) as one of just a few Reserve soldiers on Kandahar Airfield. - Enlisted Public Affairs Soldier deployed to Afghanistan (first Army unit to deploy after 9/11) from November 2001-June 2002. - Managed the support of more than 75 civilian reporters from around the globe. - Wrote news releases and articles (Stars and Stripes, NY Times and Associated Press Wires). - Took photographs and supported the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) as one of just a few Reserve soldiers on Kandahar Airfield.

Student Worker

• 2000 - 2001

Student worker in the Culverhouse School of Business Student worker in the Culverhouse School of Business

Student Writer (High School)

• Aug 1996 - May 1999