Britt Smith Email & Phone Number

South Florida

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

Developed daily strategic media trends for Commanders Update Briefing, as well as briefing developed products that outline media strategic trends for US Central Command and Department of Defense. Designed and presented daily briefings to Central Command Senior Commanders and subordinate commands attached to Central Command.Interacted with media and directed media inquiries to the proper commands. Developed specific topic talking points related to strategic and tactical situations as they developed in the area of responsibilities and on the battlefield.  Oversaw the Central Command Forward Joint Operation Center Public Affairs office forward. Accomplished the first transfer of command from Tampa Headquarters to Qatar Headquarters forward. Developed and implemented daily operational requirements for Central Command Public Affairs Media Analyst team.

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

U.S. Army, 131st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, attached to Central CommandOversaw community public relations, developed and maintained close ties with local civilian community. Fostered a positive image and ensured community understood Central Command mission in Global War on Terror. Escorted and spoke to a variety of civilian and military VIPS. Acted as chief media escort for media access to MacDill AFB. Performed planning, directing, coordinating, and evaluating all public communication with national and international audiences in areas that included public information, media relations, internal information, internal communication, community relations, and strategic communications. Directed nineteen journalists. Provided supervision and exercised responsibility for daily operations. Researched, developed, and wrote news releases and feature articles. Guided and taught personnel in techniques of combat public affairs and operation of a public relations office in high-pressure, critical environment (Iraq).  Lauded for performance in crisis circumstances. Served as Senior Media Engagement Officer, Media/Engagement Team (MET).  Linked reporters and news outlets with service members in Iraq and Afghanistan to facilitate interviews.  Provided a variety of services not accessible to medium and smaller media outlets.

Joint Forces Training Center, Camp Shelby

Wrote stories, photographed media events, and planned and participated in campaigns at Camp Shelby, MS. Prepared media releases, press advisories, and answered media queries. Prepared media coverage of special events in local area. Researched, developed, and wrote news releases and feature articles. Edited material submitted for publication.  Implemented training course for all 1st Army mobilization sites (six). Developed murder board to prepare brigade commander for media interviews utilizing media research to tailor potential questions that might be asked and how to answer them.

Iraq

Directed the activities of three staff members. Served as Editor for bimonthly Lighting Bolt. Arranged interviews with key military personnel. Coordinated logistics for 15+ print journalists, as well as radio and TV reporters. Briefed the 48th Brigade commander during the daily commander update briefing on all matters related to media coverage of the brigade. Tracked all embedded reporter and briefed on future stories. Briefed on how the coverage affected the brigade’s combat efficiency. Performed media research on all potentially embedded reporters to determine level of brigade coverage.  Initiated and coordinated media blitz conducted by State of Georgia Public Affairs Office. Developed embedded program for journalists covering the 48th Brigade.

Dublin, Ga

Coordinated program scheduling for television station broadcast. Provided direction, guidance, and training to local television news operation. Prepared schedules, screened and acquired programs, and participated in program promotions. Decided hiring, evaluation, promotion, and termination of employees. Previewed and evaluated local, unsolicited independent, regional, and national television programs to determine appropriateness for the station. Wrote and produced daily fifteen-minute news program and live morning information show with guests, live phone-in, and pre-taped segments. Developed weekly programming schedule fitting entertainment/news/public information needs of the community while flexible enough to respond to community events.

Macon, Ga

Planned and implemented Bioterrorism Response Team for population safety, including nuclear, chemical, and natural disaster for seventeen counties. Coordinated with emergency management, fire, police, and medical personnel. schools, civic centers, town halls, and county health departments. Answered media queries, developed press releases and media advisories, and prepared media guides for possible disaster. Wrote Public Affairs Officers Standard Operating Procedures for North Central Health District (2003), called Bio-terrorism PAO, in-depth manual for working with media in critical incidents. Developed media response list that included radio and TV stations in the event of an incident.  Developed several pre-recorded messages available for immediate airing, instructing people on emergency response.