Ben Tisdale Email & Phone Number

Atlanta, Ga, Us

San Diego, California, United States

The Honor Foundation (THF) is a unique transition institute created exclusively for the elite members of the U.S. Special Operations community. We provide a clear process for professional development and a diverse ecosystem of world-class support. Every step at THF is dedicated to preparing these outstanding men and women to continue to realize their maximum potential during and after their elite service careers.The Mission: "To serve others with honor, for life. So their next mission is clear and continues to impact the world."

As a U.S. Navy Public Affairs Officer, I am entrusted to ensure accurate representation of the Navy's mission, values, and accomplishments while fostering transparency and public trust.

Coronado, California, United States

As the lead Strategic Communicator for Naval Special Warfare, I led comprehensive communication strategies to elevate public understanding and safeguard the command’s reputation. Collaborating closely with senior leadership, I helped align messaging across diverse audiences while maintaining the operational security of Navy SEALs and Special Warfare Combat Crewmen.▶︎ Media Relations & Crisis Management: Managed high-profile national media engagements with top outlets including AP, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Reuters, BBC, Task & Purpose, and Military Times. Protected the command's integrity and reputation during sensitive situations and challenges.▶︎ AI-Driven Message Alignment: Led the Navy and SOCOM in integrating generative AI into public communication programs, resulting in better-tailored messaging to connect with stakeholder audiences faster across a special operations force of 10,000+ personnel.▶︎ Health Communication Innovation: Rolled out a groundbreaking Prohibited Performance Enhancing Drug Prevention program, utilizing innovative communication techniques to enhance internal and external understanding of health policies, ensuring widespread adoption and success.

Norfolk, Virginia, United States

I leveraged strategic communication skills to advance the Navy's narrative and public awareness, leading initiatives that revolutionized digital engagement across the fleet. As a servant leader, I fostered mentorship and leadership in public affairs, while offering strategic advisory support to ensure impactful messaging for U.S. Fleet Forces Command.▶︎ Servant Leadership: Managed the daily operations of the Navy's largest Fleet Public Affairs team, leading a diverse group of civilians and officers. Regularized updates from branch heads to align with mission goals and championed mentorship programs that developed Public Affairs Officers both within and outside the command.▶︎ Strategic Communication: Served as a trusted advisor to the 3-Star Admiral, flag officers, and SES's, crafting over a dozen speeches and communication strategies that significantly elevated the command’s communication reach and influence.▶︎ Innovative Digital Engagement: Pioneered digital strategies, achieving a 120% increase in social media impressions and a 45% boost in engagement, setting new records for audience reach.▶︎ Communication Synchronization: Co-chaired the Communication Synchronization Working Group, introducing new tactics that enhanced strategic communication coordination across the fleet.▶︎ Media & Crisis Management: Managed crisis communication and national media inquiries, overseeing the preparation of over 30 CHINFO Briefing Cards, strengthening media relations and enhancing the fleet’s public image.

Norfolk, Virginia Area

Led strategic communication planning and execution, amplifying the operational contributions and inherent value of over 130,000 Selected Reserve and Full-Time Support Sailors. I was instrumental in communicating key human resource initiatives and shaping the public narrative around the Navy Reserve’s vital role within the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense.▶︎ Strategic Communication Leadership: Ensured the integral role and achievements of the Navy Reserve were prominently featured in both military and civilian discourse. Developed key messages that highlighted the operational readiness and versatility of Reserve Sailors, leading to increased public support and understanding.▶︎ Innovative Project Management: Spearheaded communication campaigns for critical human resources programs for Selected Reserve Sailors, streamlining complex processes and enhancing mission readiness across 60,000 personnel.▶︎ Award-Winning Excellence: Received the prestigious 2020 CHINFO Thomas-Ravitz Unit Award for superior performance in Internal Communication and crisis communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Delivered timely and impactful messaging to over 130,000 Reserve personnel, ensuring operational continuity and confidence throughout the crisis.▶︎ Digital Engagement Leadership: Achieved over 1.2 million social media interactions in 2020, setting a new benchmark for digital presence. Led a successful digital platform migration, saving $30,000 annually and significantly increasing web traffic.

Norfolk, Virginia Area

Led a 28-member team in developing and executing innovative public affairs initiatives, aligning with the commander's communication strategy to underscore the strategic value of a carrier strike group during periods of global competition.• Community Relations Director. Spearheaded a high-profile VIP tour program, skillfully coordinating over 400 in-port and at-sea aircraft carrier tours within 24 months. This included engaging with US and international government officials, civic leaders, and other dignitaries, significantly elevating the carrier's global stature.• Internal Comms Expert. Directed a comprehensive internal communications program for an 8,000-strong aircraft carrier strike group, enhancing employee engagement and information flow across diverse departments and ranks.

Fort Meade, Md

Led strategic communication initiatives for U.S. Fleet Cyber Command, enhancing the Navy's narrative in the rapidly evolving cyber warfare domain. My efforts connected military, government, and public stakeholders, ensuring transparency and effective communication of the command's strategic objectives.▶︎ Communication Synchronization: Implemented the "Fleet Cyber Playbook," a comprehensive guide outlining communication protocols for the cyber warfare domain. Streamlined message delivery across a global network of 14,000 Sailors, enhancing clarity and coordination.▶︎ Media Analysis Innovation: Developed a pioneering social media analytical report for U.S. Cyber Command, offering critical insights into digital engagement and narrative impact. Enabled proactive adjustments to media strategies in real time, aligning messaging with audience perceptions.▶︎ Crisis Communication Planning: Created a robust crisis communication framework to manage sensitive operations, integrating intelligence with media trends to protect operational security and shape audience perception.▶︎ Congressional Affairs Leadership: Directed legislative affairs strategies, preparing high-level materials and ensuring effective communication for congressional engagements. Spearheaded the command’s posture statement before the Senate Armed Services Committee’s Cybersecurity subcommittee, advancing the Navy’s strategic objectives.

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

Led a diverse team of Public Affairs professionals during a dynamic period between deployments to Afghanistan, managing media relations and ensuring accurate, timely communication on high-visibility issues. My efforts were pivotal in supporting U.S. combatant commands and maintaining transparency during key operations.▶︎ Media Relations Leadership: Managed over 360 global media queries, leading the combatant command media team in delivering timely and accurate information on major operations, including Operation INHERENT RESOLVE and RESOLUTE SUPPORT. Supported key audiences while discrediting enemy propaganda.▶︎ Operational Efficiency Improvements: Introduced standardized business practices, media analytics, and command briefing products, improving overall efficiency within the media division.▶︎ Crisis Communication Expertise: Navigated positive and negative publicity on issues of national and international importance, maintaining operational integrity and media transparency.

Kabul, Afghanistan

Executed strategic leadership and provided hands-on guidance to Afghanistan’s security communicators, leveraging my expertise in public communication, planning, and media relations. Serving as the lead national government communication advisor, worked closely with multiple senior Afghan officials, including the Presidential Spokesperson, the Strategic Communication Director to the National Security Council, the Communication Director to the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG), and the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior (MoI). ▶︎ National Security Communication Coordination: Assisted the Presidential Spokesperson in leading the coordination of security communicators, achieving synchronization of national-level messages related to Afghanistan's security sector. This effort resulted in consistent messaging used by government spokespersons to counter insurgent propaganda and misinformation effectively.▶︎ Executive-Level Media Training: Provided executive-level media training and strategic communication planning courses to the IDLG spokesperson, significantly enhancing her ability to communicate effectively with international media during crisis situations.▶︎ Budget Management: Led the integration and training for the Afghan's MoI’s Public Affairs Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process. Successfully secured a $1.5 million annual budget for MoI public affairs, enabling the effective execution of national-level communications.▶︎ Targeted Messaging Development: Utilized nationwide survey data to assist principals in developing targeted messages aimed at increasing government support in strategic areas of Afghanistan, demonstrating my ability to leverage data-driven insights for effective communication strategies.

Kabul, Afghanistan

As a fully trained Afghanistan/Pakistan Hand through the Joint Staff’s foreign military advisor program, I served as the senior public affairs advisor to the Afghan Ministry of Defense (MoD). In this capacity, I advised three general officers in strategic communication, public affairs planning, media relations, and social media. I was instrumental in assisting MoD leaders with planning, designing, executing, and evaluating national campaigns. Managing a team of advisors and contractor personnel, I led over 200+ engagements with Afghan partners, aiding in the development of their first social media policy and creating public affairs guidance for major ground operations to counteract messaging from extremist groups.▶︎ Train, Advise, and Assist (TAA) Conference Leadership: Hand-selected to develop and host a TAA conference for all Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) and Information Operations Professionals in the theater. My meticulous planning and commitment to professional development were crucial in delivering highly effective training for approximately 20 international PAOs, enhancing staff coordination and advisor capability.▶︎ Budgetary and Procurement Advisory Role: Filled a critical 3-month manning gap in the Religious and Cultural Affairs advisory team. Advised and assisted the MoD RCA’s Financial Director on budgetary and procurement challenges, successfully processing over $400K in procurement requests on schedule.▶︎ Contracting Officer Technical Representative Duties: Volunteered to oversee two high-profile service contracts, providing advanced public affairs training to government communicators across Afghanistan, demonstrating my ability to manage significant projects and contribute to capacity building.

Coronado, Ca

Hand-selected to be a senior communication advisor and spokesperson for all units within the Naval Special Warfare community; provided assistance, mentorship and consultation to subordinate PAOs in initiating and maintaining direct contact with the general public, specialized groups, and community/governmental entities using command messages and information regarding the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community. Developed communication plans that were targeted to both internal and external audiences.▶︎ Media Relations Expertise: Managed headquarters' public affairs products and services during a time of heightened media exposure, including the development of flag officer-level briefing cards for the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), and the Chief of Navy Information. This role was instrumental in maintaining a positive and accurate public image for NSW.▶︎ Analytical Innovations: Pioneered the headquarters' first public-interest analysis reports, providing leadership with crucial insights to shape NSW’s communication campaigns and strategic efforts.▶︎ Communication Focus on NSW Capabilities: Directed public affairs efforts to highlight NSW's integration and collaboration with conventional fleet forces, effectively communicating the command’s diverse capabilities.▶︎ Mentorship and Leadership: Provided invaluable guidance and leadership to eight junior officer PAOs across the global NSW enterprise, enhancing their communication strategies and professional growth.▶︎ Award-Winning Publication: Led a team of six enlisted Sailors to produce an award-winning magazine for the NSW community, showcasing the command's activities and achievements, and significantly boosting morale and engagement within the community.

Coronado, Ca

As the lead Public Affairs Officer responsible to a SEAL commodore, I oversaw the development, coordination, and implementation of all public affairs and combat visual media programs for the command and its nine subordinate units, encompassing all West coast-based SEAL Teams. A key member of the contingency planning staff, I played a crucial role in deploying special operations forces to various worldwide locations. My responsibilities also included serving as the primary spokesperson for external media, managing the command's social media presence, and overseeing family support websites. I led a team of seven highly skilled Navy Mass Communication Specialists, ensuring excellence in all communication and media-related initiatives.▶︎ Innovative Family Communication Strategies: Developed and implemented effective strategies to improve the command’s family communication programs, leading to a 60% increase in utilization of family support websites and social media platforms.▶︎ Public Affairs Standard Operating Procedures: Authored NSW-enterprise standard operating procedures for public affairs support during Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (CACO) evolutions. This initiative resulted in enhanced efficiencies across several public affairs teams.▶︎ High-Profile Memorial Service Coordination: Orchestrated a significant memorial service for four NSW and EOD sailors, attended by over 800 service members and their families. Managed a team of over 30 officers, enlisted, and civilian personnel from eight different commands to ensure a dignified and fitting tribute.

Rota, Spain

As the manager of base communications and community relations for all U.S. naval activities in Spain and Portugal, I provided strategic public affairs guidance to command leadership and 27 tenant commands. I led communication efforts that strengthened relationships with local communities and promoted the strategic importance of U.S. military operations in the region.▶︎ Social Media Leadership: Spearheaded the Navy’s initial social media strategy, leading to the command’s recognition with the Navy’s first-ever CHINFO merit award for outstanding social media presence.▶︎ Public Affairs Coverage for U.S. Sixth Fleet Exercises: Delivered comprehensive public affairs coverage for key exercises such as LISA AZUL and PHOENIX EXPRESS. Promoted Navy and Air Force contributions from Spain during Operation ODYSSEY DAWN, increasing the visibility and understanding of our strategic roles.▶︎ Host-Nation Community Engagement: Implemented the command’s inaugural host-nation community engagement plan in collaboration with the State Department. This initiative set a new standard for community relations across Navy Region Europe, strengthening U.S.-Spain ties and bolstering support for military operations.

Norfolk, Va

In my role coordinating media queries for all Naval Forces assigned to the Atlantic coast, I developed and implemented comprehensive public affairs plans for high-visibility Navy issues. I played a key role in executing public affairs activities for major events like New York City Fleet Week 2008, addressing environmental impact statements, and introducing new policies across the Fleet.▶︎ Communication Integration Leadership: Coordinated communication efforts with the Chief of Navy Information, major commands, and Fleet public affairs staffs, ensuring alignment of Navy-wide messaging on critical issues such as aircraft carrier employment, Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (ATFP) readiness, and the Individual Augmentee continuum for deploying Sailors.▶︎ Spokesperson for Key Fleet Affairs: Acted as the Fleet Forces spokesperson for critical areas, including manpower/personnel, training/readiness, environment, research/development, and reserve affairs. Effectively communicated complex topics to both internal and external audiences.▶︎ New York City Fleet Week 2008: Led the development of public affairs guidance for New York City Fleet Week 2008, overseeing national media events. Served as Master of Ceremonies for the Parade of Sail, hosting distinguished guests and elevating the Navy’s public image.▶︎ Littoral Combat Ship Public Affairs: Designed and executed a strategic public affairs plan for the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship, resulting in significant international media coverage and reinforcing the Navy's commitment to innovation and technological advancement.

Master Of Arts (M.A.), Mass Communications

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Political Science And Speech Communication

Activities and Societies: Georgia State Legislative Internship (2004), President of Beta Delta chapter of Delta Tau Delta (2003).

Master Of Science - Ms, Financial Planning And Services