Kimberly Cousins Email & Phone Number

Mrs. Cousins is a retired military officer with 30 years of experience in leadership positions focusing on crisis management and communications, as well as public engagement and information. She has degrees in mass media communications and creative writing. Mrs. Cousins gained joint, multi-jurisdictional experience while serving on the FEMA Region V Homeland Response Force and supporting the Cleveland Federal Mass Vaccination Clinic, as well as disaster and crisis response efforts in support of Hurricane Katrina relief, and the 2020 statewide riots and protests.

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Principal advisor to the commander in the administration and oversight of more than 200 geographically dispersed fulltime soldiers and contractors throughout the state. Train and develop staff to build a cohesive, organized, and focused team.- Selected by the Ohio Adjutant General serve as a staffer for the Ohio Governor during the pandemic- Selected by the former adjutant general and current director of the Department of Veterans Services to act as keynote speaker at the 2022 Women Veteran's Conference- Planned and executed quarterly force-wide training events- Responsible for oversight of organizational inspection program, corrective actions and investigations- Responsible for oversight of organizational budget with a 99% execution rate, ensuring compliance with all regulatory guidelines- Responsible for oversight, tracking and compliance of all battalion investigations- Selected by the Chief of Staff to conduct sensitive investigation into a soldier suicide

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Primary advisor to the commander on all public communication and public affairs matters in a joint, high-visibility environment. - Ohio National Guard public affairs liaison to all federal, state and city partners - Coordinate with partners to ensure proper and consistent messaging- Promote community outreach programs targeting socially vulnerable populations in the greater Cleveland area- Coordinate and facilitate press conferences for the Ohio Governor- Respond to media inquiries and coordinate interview requests- Coordinate and facilitate tours to educate media and dignitaries on operations- Oversight of internal print and video products- Prepare and distribute media releases

Columbus, Ohio

Principal advisor to the commander of a military police battalion consisting of approximately 900 soldiers in five geographically dispersed units with primary responsibility for the State of Ohio's National Guard civil disturbance response force which operates in support of local law enforcement during times of crisis.- Responsible for managing the battalion's day-to-day operations, administration, and training, with supervisory responsibility for 23 fulltime employees- Hastily assembled and oversaw a joint staff of diverse units during a mobilization by the Ohio Governor to respond to the 2020 riots and protests in cities across Ohio- Worked closely with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections to backfill critical personnel shortages due to the pandemic during a mobilization by the Ohio Governor

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Primary human resources manager and advisor to the commander on personnel readiness requirements for a diverse brigade structure incorporating more than 2,500 Soldiers and Airmen in Military Police, Aviation, Chemical, Special Forces and Civil Support units. - Additional primary human resources responsibility for the FEMA Region V Homeland Response Force, ensuring the personnel readiness of nearly 600 personnel to alert and assemble within 6-12 hours at the request of the governor(s) to work alongside first responder and provide assets capable of command and control, security, casualty assistance, search and extraction, nuclear, biological and chemical decontamination, and medical triage and stabilization- Plan, synchronize and monitor personnel support and readiness operations to meet organizational goals- Supervise eight direct reports and provide technical oversight and management of five subordinate personnel sections- Led team to a number one ranking in personnel readiness among the state’s six major subordinate commands

Columbus Metropolitan Area, Ohio, United States

Primary responsibility for overseeing the operations and training of ten geographically-dispersed Recruit Sustainment Companies throughout the state. - Prepare, coordinate, authenticate, publish and distribute standing operating procedures, plans and orders- Review subordinate unit training products and track unit compliance to ensure mission success- Coordinate and facilitate battalion training meetings in order to identify and resolve challenges and training distractors- Contracting officer representative, managing nine civilian contractors.

Akron, Ohio, United States

Command oversight for the administration and training of four Recruit Sustainment Companies to prepare new recruits for the rigors of military initial entry training.- Ensured positive command climate that fostered dignity and respect for all- Exceeded readiness standards on all measured areas of the Recruit Sustainment Program- Ensured program was administered in accordance with all regulations and requirements set by the National Guard Bureau- Preside over unit award and promotion ceremonies

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Responsible for a Military Police Company comprised of approximately 160 Soldiers, ensuring the health, welfare, fitness, morale, training and discipline of all personnel. - Produce operations and training plans and deliver briefs to military leaders- Designed and executed an aggressive and comprehensive training plan to validate company for overseas deployment - Assumed additional command of a $17.5 million 100-bed, maximum security detention camp within the DoD's only strategic detention facility- Provided safe, humane, legal and transparent care, custody and control of all detainees- Led more than 30 camp tours to educate national and international media outlets, agencies, and military and civilian dignitaries on camp operations and dynamics- Increased unit's rating in critical readiness metrics; earning the organization's most improved unit award twice- Coordinated with adjacent camp commander to develop a consolidation plan for two detention camps

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Develop training plans for the largest battalion in the Army, coordinating and executing training events for more than 1,200 soldiers. - Advised the commander and subordinate unit commanders on training plan development- Review training plans for compliance with doctrine and published training guidance- Assist mobilizing units and ensure compliance with pre-mobilization training requirements- Oversee the planning, resourcing and execution of the annual National Guard Reaction Force validation exercise

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Coordinate civil-military operations to host nation in support of nation-building efforts, humanitarian relief, disposition of and support to displaced persons/refugees. - Assess and improve local civil infrastructure in the area of operations through the use of specialty funds- Serve as the commander's cultural advisor- Advise and oversee subordinate unit civil affairs efforts- Ensure proper training of subordinate unit civil affairs officers- Executed and ensured proper use of more than $4.2 million in Congressionally-authorized specialty funds in accordance with all laws and regulations- Conduct investigations into alleged soldier misconduct

Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh Province, Afghanistan

Officer in charge of an infantry brigade female engagement team (FET) deployed to a hostile environment and charged with conducting engagement activities with Afghan females in a culturally respectful manner. - Responsible for the selection, assessment, training and readiness of the first-ever National Guard Brigade Combat Team FET- Provided mission oversight and assess team employment and effectiveness on the battlefield- Established FET-specific reporting system- Established team web page to provide information on capabilities and engagements and request support- Worked with international coalition partners to establish and furnish two daycare facilities for officers of the Afghan Border Patrol- Selected, received, cared for and employed local national female language assistants

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Serve as agency spokesperson and media liaison for a 15,000+ member organization - Prepare news releases, speeches and event scripts- Coordinate internal public affairs support of agency events- Plan, coordinate, and instruct annual statewide public affairs conference- Chief writer and copy editor for the award-winning Buckeye Guard magazine- Selected to represent the organization as a veteran panelist for the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends air show- Selected to represent the Ohio National Guard noncommissioned officer corps during a military exchange with the Serbian Armed Forces- Selected to receive a direct commission into the U.S. Army officer corps- Acted as liaison for organizational partnership with The Ohio State University football program- Coordinated an Ohio National Guard Silver Star Medal award ceremony presided over by the Ohio Governor at the Ohio Statehouse- Coordinated and oversaw numerous call to duty and welcome home ceremonies for deploying and returning units

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Dual-hatted assignment as a battalion human resources officer and the rear detachment commander of a forward deployed unit.- Assist in planning, coordinating and delivering human resources support and services for approximately 600 personnel- Conduct staff assistance visits to subordinate units - Ensure accurate personnel reporting and medical readiness- Oversee and facilitate processing of awards, evaluation reports, promotions, and other personnel actions - Responsible for administration, operations and training for all rear detachment personnel- Act as liaison with forward deployed unit and interaction with the unit family readiness group

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Supervise a team of 10 print journalists assigned to a mobile public affairs detachment.- Manage all print product assignments to completion- Mentor team members - Chief copy editor for all print products- Coordinate public affairs coverage of Ohio National Guard units- Coordinate publication of print section stories with civilian and military media outlets- Facilitate media requests for interviews and access to military units and personnel

Kettering, Ohio, United States

Provide public affairs team lead for a military Sustainment Brigade, including coverage of unit training and personnel.- Develop standing operating procedures and reference materials for section members- Supervise and mentor team members- Writer, photographer, digital archivist and chief copy editor for internal print publications- Media liaison and coordinator for external publication of print products

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Supervise, mentor and train six military journalists assigned to an Army National Guard mobile public affairs detachment.- Primary copy editor for all print products- Coordinate and produce print products including news and feature stories and photographs- Ensure the maintenance and accountability of all section equipment- Coordinate publication of print products with military and civilian media- Facilitate civilian media during unit training events

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Supervise, mentor and train six military journalists assigned to a military mobile public affairs detachment.- Primary copy editor for all print products- Coordinate and produce print products including news and feature stories and photographs- Ensure the maintenance and accountability of all section equipment- Coordinate publication of print products with military and civilian media- Facilitate civilian media during unit training events.

Baqubah, Diyala Governorate, Iraq

Military print and photojournalist forward deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. - Responsible for producing print stories and photographs of all manner of military operations, events and personnel- Facilitate and provide battlefield escort for civilian media coverage of military operations- Release authority for print products to civilian and military media outlets

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Produce print products including news and feature stories and photographs. Ensure the maintenance and accountability of personal equipment. Facilitate civilian media during unit training events.

Master Of Humanities, Creative Writing

With Distinction

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Mass Media Communications

Summa Cum Laude