John Smith

Experience

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  United States Department of Defense

  Jan 1987 - Jan 1991

  Public Affairs Plans Officer

  Senior Advisor to the Director of Public Relations• Reported directly to Secretary of Defense and DoD public relations executive as the senior counsel for Army and joint public relations matters.• Escorted media that accompanied the Secretary of Defense internationally, acting as primary liaison.• Planned and conducted major media events during peacetime and war efforts that covered activities of all military services, providing information in English and through translators to international correspondents.• Oversaw military crisis communications with the Department of State and White House, providing accurate and timely information vital to informed decision-making. Show less

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  National Guard Bureau

  Jan 1987 - Jan 1991

  • Chief of Media Relations

    Jan 1987 - Jan 1991

  • Chief of Media Relations

    Jan 1987 - Jan 1991

  • Public Affairs

    Jan 1987 - Jan 1991

  • Chief of Media Relations

    Jan 1987 - Jan 1991
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  US Army, Japan

  Jan 1991 - Jan 1994

  Chief of Public Affairs

  Director – Public Relations• Senior corporate spokesperson for Army activities in Japan and provided oversight for all public and media relations campaigns and programs across the region.• Increased awareness of Army humanitarian efforts through development of effective strategies and delivery of superior public relations support for missions from Japan to Madagascar.• Enhanced communications across commands by working as senior publisher of an internal corporate newspaper.• Improved relationships with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force by serving as the senior American public relations advisor to their headquarters.• Strengthened the U.S. Army image among Japanese citizens by driving community relations programs and fostering open lines of communication with government officials. Show less

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  US Central Command

  Jan 1994 - Jan 1996

  Deputy PAO

  Directed Public Relations Programs and Operations• Served as advisor to the director of public relations and primary strategic communications planner for the U.S. multi-service military command that oversaw all operations in the Middle East and East Africa.• Managed crisis communications during combat operations, protecting integrity of missions while meeting public demand for information.• Held overall responsibility for media planning and coverage of the United Nations’ Operation UNITED SHIELD, a combat mission to withdraw the last UN peacekeepers from Somalia that included:► Acting as operational spokesperson and reporting directly to the commanding general in charge.► Organizing deployment of a Department of Defense media pool of 25 correspondents and crew into Somalia.► Overseeing the withdrawal of an additional 80 national and international journalists from Mogadishu. Show less

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  US Army, Headquarters

  May 1996 - Jul 1999

  Director, Public Communications

  Senior Army spokeman. Represented the Army with national and international media. Supervised headquarters media relations staff, and provided guidance to over 200 Army media relations personnel worldwide.Improved media coverage and support of many Army programs and defended the Army’s reputation through dynamic communications programs and dynamic marketing strategies.Coordinated the Army’s participation in the Defense Orientation Conference Association (DOCA) and Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC).Selected as Public Affairs Director for the multi-agency Operation PROVIDE REFUGE, a humanitarian mission to temporarily resettle, in the US, Albanians fleeing the war in Kosovo. ►Oversaw operations of a large media center that handled worldwide dissemination of information.►Collaborated with many government agencies, United Nations, and humanitarian organizations such as the Red Cross.►Media planning and management for the First Lady’s visit to Fort Dix. Show less

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  US Army Pacific

  Jan 1998 - Jan 2000

  Director of Public Affairs

  Director – Public Relations• Provided expert advice to the Commanding General and served as spokesperson for the Army in the Pacific.• Oversaw 50 regional headquarters’ public relations personnel and civilian aides to the Secretary of the Army.• Devised and implemented strategies encompassing Alaska, Hawaii, Japan, the Pacific and Indian Oceans.• Collaborated with other U.S. military services, military branches of other countries, U.S. and foreign government agencies, and non-governmental organizations on matters of mutual interest.• Planned and led a three-day commemoration event in Hawaii that honored 21 Asian-Pacific American WWII veterans who were awarded Medals of Honor, working closely with community leaders and government officials. Show less

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  Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control

  Jun 2001 - Dec 2010

  For Tactical Missiles and Combat Maneuver Systems, directly supports the LOB vice president. Responsible for all aspects of integrated communications for 18 defense programs: media relations, marketing, employee communications, advertising, presentations, special events, etc. Develops, plans and conducts public relations programs to improve and support company business objectives with the public, industry, stockholders, and/or employees, supports new business capture and keep sold campaigns.Coordinates subordinate employee recruitment, selection and training, performance assessment, work assignments, salary, and recognition/disciplinary actions. Oversees planning, preparation, writing and dissemination of information in print and broadcast media; speeches, scripts, internal and external web presence. Represents the company and direct advertising campaigns, and/or edit material for organization publications. Supervises outside consultants. Show less * Public relations advisor to program managers and primary spokesperson for the $25.6 billion joint venture.* Develops and executes domestic and international programs that cover internal/external communications, community relations, and media relations.* Represents and balances interests of four major industrial partners: BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, Pratt & Whitney, and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team.*Responsible for response to > 5,000 media and public inquiries a year in 9 countries.*Built and supervises highly effective global communications team requiring organizational definition, establishing policies, and efficient processes and systems.*Positions the Program through innovative strategies and resolves inevitable challenges of a complex, international organization through expert management.*Developing internet-based media and project management tools and increased team outreach 300% by spearheading design of new intranet and extranet portals. Show less

  • Senior Communications Manager

    Jul 2008 - Dec 2010

  • Sr. Communications Manager

    Jun 2001 - Jul 2008
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  Operation Homefront

  Dec 2010 - Mar 2013

  Director, Public Relations and Marketing

  • Senior Communications Agent:o Serve on Leadership Team; provide trusted counsel to the CEO and senior staff.o Perform as Operation Homefront chief spokesperson.o Supervise the communications staff and vendors.o Create and execute a communications strategic plan.o Prepare the CEO for public and media engagements, including preparation of speeches, statements, and talking points.• Media Relations Lead:o Plan, coordinate, execute, and evaluate proactive media outreach in support of national programs. Take a hands-on approach to writing media plans, news releases, talking points and coordinate products through staff and donors.o Serve as the listed point of contact for all incoming media calls, inquiries, and requests.o Work with field office across the nation to conduct media relations functions and develop media relation’s capabilities as needed.o Support all other staff functions for PR, especially development and special events.o Use media monitoring tools to generate regular and ad-hoc reports.o Develop media tools and procedures for national and the filed offices to include standard operating procedures, press release templates, etc.o Maintain the media database; create custom distribution lists for national HQ and field offices.• Marketing and Brand Management Lead:o Develop and maintain the organization’s brand identity manual.o Coordinate with field office and national HQ staff to create and maintain marketing materials, including the annual report, briefings, brochures, banners, and ad specialty items.o Lead the coordination and planning to produce audio and video PSAs and advertisements.• Integrator of all Communication Channels:o Post news releases and articles to the organizational web site.o Assist the staff with creation and posting of information to social media outlets.• Other duties, assignments, responsibilities or requests as assigned. Show less

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  Army Residence Community

  Feb 2013 - Oct 2020

  Retired Communications Professional
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  Chestnut Communications

  Mar 2013 - Jul 2018

  President, Owner and Operator

  Provide a full spectrum of communications services to include media relations, public relations, reputation management, marketing, and community relations.

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  US Army, Retired

  Aug 2020 - now

  Occasional public relations volunteer

  • Retired

    Aug 2020 - now

  • Retired

    Aug 2020 - now
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  US Army

  Aug 2020 - now

  Retired
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  US Army Retired

  Oct 2020 - Oct 2020

  Retired Senior Communications Executive residing in Fort Worth, TX