Experience

Vietnam Veterans of America

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Managing Director

  • Jul 2023 - Present

  Unifies the efforts of the nine VVA directors and their respective staffs to implement VVA’s mission, and the vision and long-term goals of VVA’s national officers and its Board of Directors. Provides sound business and organizational strategies to VVA’s national leaders. Prepares an annual budget, serves as the organization’s Contracting Officer, and guides day-to-day operations. Unifies the efforts of the nine VVA directors and their respective staffs to implement VVA’s mission, and the vision and long-term goals of VVA’s national officers and its Board of Directors. Provides sound business and organizational strategies to VVA’s national leaders. Prepares an annual budget, serves as the organization’s Contracting Officer, and guides day-to-day operations.



United States Department of Defense

• United States
• Armed Forces
• 700 & Above Employee

• Chief, Strategic Plans & Analysis, The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration

  • Sep 2022 - Jul 2023

• Chief, Strategic Engagement, The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration

  • Mar 2020 - Aug 2022

  Led a team of civilians and contractors in developing, executing and tracking dynamic strategies and communication initiatives that guided organizational success in thanking and honoring 7 million Vietnam veterans living in America and abroad, and the more than 10 million families of those who served.

• Senior Advisor, Strategy & Engagement, The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration

  • Apr 2016 - Mar 2020

  • Provided organizational strategy and global communication advice and expertise. • Penned key messages, tag lines, speeches, and media and public information kits. • Provided monthly executive summary on organizational progress. • Crafted briefings for 17-member Federal Advisory Committee on communication strategies and progress measures. • Reviewed and provides guidance on public communication initiatives. • Drafted key sections of the annual communication plan. • Represented the director at commemorative partner events across the nation. Show less

• Chief, Strategy & Engagement, The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration

  • Oct 2014 - Apr 2016

  • Led a team of military, civilians and contractors in developing, executing and tracking dynamic strategies and communication initiatives that guided organizational success in thanking and honoring 7 million living Vietnam veterans and the more than 10 million families of those who served. • Successfully shifted the Commemoration’s measure of success from the number of partners secured to the number of Vietnam veterans and their families thanked and honored. • Facilitated biweekly strategy meetings with the director and senior staff addressing critical facts, an essential task list, achievable strategic initiatives and measurable progress. • Established and executed two annual communication plans designed to create a vibrant, resonant national voice for the Commemoration; key messages delivered to 377 million. • Provided guidance and training to the director for myriad print, radio and television interviews.• Equipped the staff and 30,000 Commemorative Partner representatives to speak with a unified voice – developed, refined and clearly articulated the organization’s vision, key messages, tag lines, quotable quotes, background, speech templates and sample media announcements. • Provided hundreds of news media with responses to queries and organizational media kits. • Strategically expanded Commemorative Partner support, while continually engaging and highlighting efforts of 10,000 partner organizations around the globe. • Publicly briefed 17-member Federal Advisory Committee, Interagency Advisory Group and senior Departmental leaders on organizational strategies and progress measures. • Represented the director at commemorative events in communities across the nation; personally presented Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pins to hundreds of Vietnam veterans. • Justified and secured Campaigner services and analytics; highlighted partner activities and successes through 17 monthly newsletters to 600 thousand. Show less



Words&Music, Inc.

• Sterling, Virginia

• Member, Board of Directors

  • Sep 2014 - Aug 2015

  • Assisted five dynamic, professional musicians in uplifting audiences through rich and innovative concert experiences and the exquisite power of the human voice in song. • Member, Executive Committee; contributed to executive decisions in lieu of the entire Board. • Chair, Development Committee; led a team that facilitates operations by garnering financial underwriting by individuals, corporations and grants. Led production of annual fund-raising gala. • Co-chair, Recruitment Committee; assisted in leading efforts to sustain and augment the Board of Directors, as well as volunteers supporting organizational events. • Led strategy sessions for 8-member executive board. Outcomes guided future direction; articulate vision, mission and strategies, and directly lead to organizational success. • Responsible for contributing time, talent and treasure to successful execution of five annual concerts in the National Capital Region. Show less



United States Department of Defense

• United States
• Armed Forces
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director, Community & Public Outreach

  • Feb 2012 - Jun 2014

  • Led joint, 32-member team overseeing policy on $231 million in DoD public outreach activities. • Saved $104 million; led the military services in developing a plan for effective outreach under sequestration while reducing annual expenditures by 45%; secured Secretary of Defense approval. • Coordinated White House requests for 9,450 military members at 108 events ranging from the President’s State of the Union addresses and White House celebrations to presidential phone calls to deployed military members during national holidays. • Led the planning and execution of six roundtable meetings and 23 phone calls between two Secretaries of Defense and 27 key national leaders of industry, veterans and military service groups, and nonprofits supporting the military and their families; DoD positions clarified and advocacy strengthened. • Sole outreach leader during 16-day Government shutdown; ensured SD consideration of nonprofit offer to provide $100,000 death gratuity benefit for 32 families; led to benefit restoration by Congress. • Oversaw development and execution of policies guiding DoD portrayals in movies and television, the commercial use of DoD marks, and use of military aircraft, bands and troops in public events. • Conceived and implemented policies guiding DoD outreach efforts under budget sequestration. Show less



United States Air Force

• United States
• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Commander & Conductor, The U.S. Air Force Band

  • Jun 2010 - Jan 2012

  • Strengthened relations with 54 countries during 93 events for the U.S. President, Vice President, Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and leaders of the U.S. Air Force. • Conceived and conducted a 57-minute, $625,000 Veterans Day television special aired before 2 million viewers that honored three Medal of Honor recipients and two former prisoners of war. • Revitalized the annual Guest Artist Series, increasing average audience attendance 136 percent during eleven performances from 1.4 to 3.3 thousand; attracted 13 internationally renowned guest artists, including Arturo Sandoval, Al Jarreau, Lone Star and superstar dancers from the hit television show, “So You Think You Can Dance.” • Transformed a 30-second appearance on NBC’s TODAY show into an impromptu 3-minute, 40-second interview before 33.1 million viewers; garnered $1.6 million in equivalent advertising. Show less



United States Department of Defense

• United States
• Armed Forces
• 700 & Above Employee

• Deputy Director, Community & Public Outreach

  • Jun 2008 - Jun 2010

  • Created a $250,000, 2-hour public opening of the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial before 4,200 guests in just 48 hours; coordinated staging, concert lighting, security, IMAG video, band and script. • Secured 12.5 minutes of prime time television, inclusion of three U.S. Air Force general officers in a one-hour ESPN special before 10 million viewers; gained equivalent of $2.7 million in advertising. • Led six location-based teams in planning and executing national Air Force Week recognition ceremonies and events for Air Force senior leaders and mayors of major cities across the country. • Drafted U.S. law; led 31 legislative, legal and functional experts in formulating language governing military bands that was signed by the President in the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act. • Defended language before U.S. Congressional staffers; penned critical section-by-section analysis. Show less



United States Air Force

• United States
• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Deputy Chief, Engagement Division, Secretary of the Air Force, Public Affairs

  • Jul 2007 - Jun 2008



United States Air Force

• United States
• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Commander & Conductor, Military Bands

  • 1989 - 2007



Western Illinois University

• Director of Choral Activities

  • 1987 - 1989



High School Teacher

• Director of Choral Activities

  • 1980 - 1985