Experience

Defense Media Activity

• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Operations Manager, DOD Production

  • Jul 2017 - Present

  Managing operations for DOD Production, Defense Media Activity Managing operations for DOD Production, Defense Media Activity



American Forces Network

• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Operations Manager

  • Aug 2012 - Aug 2017

  Operations Manager. In charge of all five AFN stations on the Korean Peninsula. AFN Korea's radio and television reach covered all off South Korea. I worked directly with U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Public Affairs leadership to determine AFN’s involvement and responsibilities for the "go-to-war" plan and communications plans. I also oversaw the AFN coverage of three separate “show of force” missions in response to North Korean missile launches. Operations Manager. In charge of all five AFN stations on the Korean Peninsula. AFN Korea's radio and television reach covered all off South Korea. I worked directly with U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Public Affairs leadership to determine AFN’s involvement and responsibilities for the "go-to-war" plan and communications plans. I also oversaw the AFN coverage of three separate “show of force” missions in response to North Korean missile launches.

• AFN Europe News Director

  • Jun 2005 - Jun 2012

  Television news director for AFN Europe Headquarters. Responsible for all TV product that aired on the American Forces Network Europe (AFNE) regional news programs. I created policies and standards for broadcast story production enforced through the entire AFN Europe network that includes all 16 affiliate stations in the European footprint. I helped public affairs offices throughout the European Command develop and communicate command messaging as well as help develop their overall communications plans as it related to AFN. I coordinated and managed television coverage on U.S. military events that took place throughout the European theater for regional air. All stories from all AFN Europe stations and public affairs outlets came to me where I determined feasibility for air and provided constructive feedback to producers and PA representatives. I led, supervised, and rated a joint service crew of six enlisted service members in the network TV news department. I produced and directed a daily newscast that broadcast both live and live-to-tape five days a week. I’ve produced and directed live on-location newscasts using the AFN Europe satellite truck to include a live newscast from Normandy, France that won a Department of Defense award for Best Regional Newscast. I conducted annual story-telling training to troops at the headquarters building and via VTC to our AFN personnel in four different countries. Show less



U.S. Army Europe

• Germany
• Armed Forces
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Broadcast Supervisor and Team Lead, USAREUR Public Affairs

  • Jan 2001 - Aug 2005

  I was a public affairs officer and radio/television producer. As the broadcast supervisor I oversaw a team of four producers. I was responsible for overseeing the quality assurance and dissemination of all broadcast product, highlighting the accomplishments of U.S. Army Europe. I produced radio and television products for air on the American Forces Network Europe and Pentagon Channel audiences. I worked extensively with the U.S. Army Europe commanding general, on-location, producing four-star-level stories and public service announcements throughout the European Command, Iraq, the Balkans, and Afghanistan. I produced the majority of the radio, television spots and social media content for the U.S. Army Europe commanding general and his command sergeant major. This also included script development, shoot locations, and treatment. I was the Contingency Operations Broadcast Liaison for the U.S. Army Europe Public Affairs office and Army National Guard units in Bosnia and Kosovo. I traveled to the Balkan region and worked with military broadcast journalists and public affairs officers. I trained them on broadcast storytelling style and techniques. I also trained senior Army officers, in the Balkan region, on media relations and what to expect from local and international press. During the 60th anniversary of the Normandy landings I was the broadcast team lead for the U.S. Army Europe Media Relations team. I was also the liaison between U.S. Army Europe and the major civilian broadcast networks in the U.S. I provided advice to the USAREUR PA staff regarding civilian media operations in Normandy. I helped civilian producers from all major civilian stateside networks coordinate their Normandy coverage with the military during multiple and simultaneous events. During this two week-long event I produced 16 radio and television stories highlighting WWII veterans and U.S. Army Europe troops. I oversaw all broadcast coverage from seven military journalists. Show less



U.S. Army V Corps

• Broadcast Producer, U.S. Army V Corps

  • Aug 1999 - Dec 2001

  I was a radio and television producer. I produced radio and television products, throughout the European Command, for air on the American Forces Network and internal V Corps audiences. Products ranged from television and radio news stories, documentaries, and public service announcements. Every six months I was responsible for setting up the Media Cell during Mission Rehearsal Exercises at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany. During these events I put together a mock press team that represented international and local Bosnian and Kosovar media. I was responsible for choosing and training contracted Hungarian nationals to play the role of Balkan local media. The role players were contracted to play the role of local media using their native language. This forced U.S. military units to practice using translators. We then trained senior Army officers how to engage the local and international media prior to their deployments into the Balkan region. Show less



WICS-TV

• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 1 - 100 Employee

• TV Producer / Anchor / Reporter, WICS TV

  • Jan 1995 - May 1998

  I was a television producer, reporter, and photographer. I produced spot news and feature stories, to include a weekly first-person narrative feature piece called Through the Lens, for the Central Illinois audience. I was also the executive producer for a half-hour show called the Don Hickman Journal that aired quarterly. This show was nominated for a national Emmy Award. I anchored live reports from the field and on the news set. I was the only one-man-band producer at the station at the time responsible for shooting and producing my own stories. I developed relationships with local and state agencies and officials that allowed unfettered access to many events. It also greatly improved the relationships between outside agencies and WICS. Additionally, I was the liaison between WICS and the Illinois Army and Air Force National Guard. In this capacity I helped the station tell the National Guard story. I also amplified the Guard's outreach programs. Furthermore, I was responsible for training and supervising all new photographers and interns hired by my employer. Show less



Cubic Corporation

• United States
• IT Services and IT Consulting
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Audio / Video Technician

  • Oct 1993 - Nov 1994

  I supervised a six-man video production crew in Hohenfels, Germany. I organized the logistics of a video assignment and put together after-action reports (AAR) for U.S. Army and visiting NATO combat units. I was responsible for the operation and maintenance of a mobile production van and a mobile theater with a combined value of more than $1.2 million. I was also responsible for producing and editing a training video for the U.S. Army Field Artillery that was distributed Army wide. I supervised a six-man video production crew in Hohenfels, Germany. I organized the logistics of a video assignment and put together after-action reports (AAR) for U.S. Army and visiting NATO combat units. I was responsible for the operation and maintenance of a mobile production van and a mobile theater with a combined value of more than $1.2 million. I was also responsible for producing and editing a training video for the U.S. Army Field Artillery that was distributed Army wide.



WAND -TV

• Israel
• IT System Custom Software Development
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Reporter / Photographer

  • May 1993 - Oct 1993

  I was a producer, photographer, reporter, and editor for the WAND-TV Springfield Bureau. I worked in the Illinois State Capitol Building producing and reporting Springfield area news for the central Illinois audience. Coming out of the military as a broadcast journalist, I was the only one-man-band producer in the station at the time. Additionally, I supervised and trained two college intern students television news journalism. I was a producer, photographer, reporter, and editor for the WAND-TV Springfield Bureau. I worked in the Illinois State Capitol Building producing and reporting Springfield area news for the central Illinois audience. Coming out of the military as a broadcast journalist, I was the only one-man-band producer in the station at the time. Additionally, I supervised and trained two college intern students television news journalism.



U.S. Army

• United States
• Armed Forces
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Soldier

  • May 1984 - May 1992

  I was a U.S. Army Soldier and NCO who worked as a news director, assignments editor, reporter, anchor, photographer, editor, and base still photographer. Stationed in California and Italy. I was a still photographer taking photographs of military experiments at Fort Hunter Liggett, California. I was the Base Still Photographer at Camp Darby, Italy working with the garrison public affairs office. I cross-trained, switching my military career field, and became a broadcast journalist in 1988. As a broadcaster I was the News Director in charge of the local evening TV newscast at AFN Livorno (Camp Darby). All stories had to meet my approval before airing. I Assigned stories to reporters and photographers working in the station. I anchored the evening news and was master of ceremonies for various events at the request of local commanders and private organizations. I was also the AFN Livorno morning radio show host for the live morning broadcast. Show less