Tania Mcgilton Email & Phone Number

Northern Va/Washington Dc

As Communication Support for the Integrated Personnel and Pay System - Army (IPPS-A), write and research content and coordinate graphic design and web personnel support to make updates to the website and print materials. Write white papers on social media channels for client adjudication, support a re-design of the website and update of all content, develop media kit and press releases, and manage client LinkedIn page.

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

As the Case Study Analyst on a short-term government project, assisted and then led writing the final case study on an organization's transformation after a crisis. Assisted with case study research, interview transcription, editing and layout/design. Wrote and designed a program for a panel discussion. In addition, ensured timely execution of the required contract deliverables. The case study will serve as an important teaching document for all institutions.

Northern Virginia

As the Marketing and Branding Lead for Integrated Personnel and Pay System - Army (IPPS-A), developed messaging to educate stakeholders, plans and coordinated branding and marketing material production with designers; planned photo and video projects with a photographer/videographer and participated in development meetings to provide communication recommendations to leadership. *Synchronized messaging across all platforms to include articles, web and social media. *Coordinated with graphic designers to produce a robust branding tool kit to include products for several stakeholders and channels. *Worked with a photographer/videographer to execute photo shoots and to develop videos explaining complicated concepts in easily digestible and concise formats for web and social media. *Executed and achieved government approval for an extensive marketing material tool kit, a five-day photo shoot of soldiers, several event photo shoots, and a multitude of web, print and video products.

Alexandria, Va

As Lead Writer for the DoD Warrior Games, she was responsible for all messaging across all platforms on an extremely short timeline leading up to and during the Games. *Planned the layout and design of the 60-page program book which included writing content, collecting headshots and biographies of more than 250 athletes, and ensuring accuracy and consistency. *Wrote public affairs guidance, operations order, fact sheets, press releases and six event-specific booklets. *Developed content and planned the layout/design of the official website (24K web sessions/2.83 pages per visits/2.51 mins. per visit) and mobile application (~1K users/~24K mins. used). *Managed and collaborated with graphic designers, web developers and other writers on design, web and print requirements. *Organized meetings with public affairs officers and delivered executive summaries. Served as quality assurance reviewer and editor for the team. *Assisted with dressing the venues with signage; briefed athletes on media, social media, website and mobile application; and ensured constant updates on website and mobile application.

Alexandria, Va

As Public Affairs and Communication Planning Support for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (ASD(R&E)), she supported website, social media and leadership communication efforts.*Researched content on solicitations, news and events to coordinate with web developers on update of two websites. *Drafted content and tweets for the DoD Innovation Twitter page. *Coordinated with the Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs on media inquiries and documents for public release. *Coordinated the Scientist of the Quarter internal media coverage and developed content for the website feature. *Provided recommendations to communication plans and strategies, public affairs guidance, monthly themes and messages. *Met with leadership to brainstorm strategies for future communication efforts.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

As a Senior Planner for the Army Office of the Chief of Public Affairs (OCPA), she supported the Plans Division personnel team and assisted subject matter experts across the Army in developing communications strategy and guidance designed to educate and inform various internal and external audiences on Army platforms, campaigns, commemorations, programs and issues. *Provided guidance and counsel to senior leadership on the ramification of Army actions. *In support of the medical portfolio, reviewed communication plans and public affairs guidance (PAG), provided recommendations, and assisted with planning and/or execution for Medical Command reorganization/transformation, Warrior Transition Unit force restructures, Warrior Care Month, Army Wounded Warrior Program 10th Anniversary, Military Health System (MHS) Modernization Study, Secretary of Defense 90-Day MHS Review and Warrior Games. *Assisted with PAG on Memorial Day, misconduct discharges, sexual assaults, Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS), Medal of Honor/Battle of Vehicle Patrol Base Kahler, Fort Hood shooting, Army Crime Report and Sergeant Bergdahl. *Participated in multiple communication planning group meetings, coordinated PAG input, and participated in a media murder board to prepare the Army’s official spokespeople. *In support of the commemoration/observance portfolio, reviewed 30+ commemoration/observance packages throughout the year to ensure inclusion of OCPA messaging and provided recommendations before packages went forward to the Director of Army Staff. *Coordinated with Army offices to begin a new observance process, developed concept of operation slides, coordinated through the Communication Synchronization Group and General Officer Steering Committee monthly meetings, and delivered product to Army leadership and public affairs officers. *Updated observance process memos and provided recommendations to the Plans Division leadership.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

As a Senior Planner for the Army Office of the Chief of Public Affairs (OCPA), she supported the 238th Army Birthday planning, one of the top three messaging platforms as designated by the Army Senior Leaders. *Drafted, coordinated and finalized the communication plan/execution order, President Obama’s greeting message, marketing materials, website content, media plan and advisories. *Additionally, successfully planned and coordinated the Secretary of the Army Mount Vernon event with Mount Vernon staff, Army Protocol, Military District of Washington, Office of the Surgeon General, Secretary of the Army Public Affairs Officer and security team. *Created an extensive standard operating procedure document with valuable and time-saving lessons learned for the team to execute future Army Birthday events more efficiently.

Alexandria, Va

As Event Planning Surge Support for U.S. Army Project Manager Radars Pentagon courtyard demonstration in October, she assisted the project manager in the execution of a successful event. Researched, consolidated and validated invitee lists; coordinated with Army Protocol on appropriate event procedures; drafted and coordinated marketing materials with designers and appropriate legal approvals; obtained estimates for monitor rental and coordinated delivery and set-up with Pentagon Force Protection Agency; researched accommodations and transportation availability for attendees; and coordinated electronic marketing within Pentagon’s InfoNet system.

Alexandria, Va

As Communication Support for Office of Warrior Care Policy (WCP), she wrote several blogs per month, provided support to the Director of Transition Policy, wrote remarks for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, WCP and Principal Director, and wrote other communications products as assigned. *In supporting the Directors, wrote four communications plans and associated products (press releases, fact sheets, blogs, video scripts, website text, etc.) for topics such as Special Compensation for Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (SCAADL), Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES), Compensation and Benefits Handbook and Veterans Employment Initiative Task Force Recommendations. *SCAADL communication efforts resulted in collaborative efforts with associated military service programs to inform and educate stakeholders and production of the online SCAADL calculator—at no cost to client—to assist service members and caregivers estimate their stipend amounts. *IDES communication efforts resulted in weekly reports on media coverage, monthly blog series to explain personnel support/phases to service members and families (receiving the highest click-throughs and reactions), and suggested follow-on plans to provide training modules and mobile applications. *Handbook communication efforts resulted in enhancement of final product, collaborative efforts with associated military service programs to inform and educate stakeholders, targeted web outreach to update hyperlinks (45 online mentions), production of mobile applications at no cost to client (25 online mentions), and Handbook becoming the most visited item for eight months. *In addition, she provided guidance and feedback to the social media lead on best practices and WCP content and information.

Alexandria, Va

As Publication Lead, she supported the Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) and the Army Warrior Transition Command (WTC) communications efforts. *Led WTC branding efforts and developed materials such as pocket folders, fact sheets, brochures, exhibit booth, pens, etc. *Coordinated WTC logo development for clothing through Lands’ End, allowing staff to order clothing easily for events. *Organized several shipments of new WTC materials to Warrior Transition Units across the country.*Organized and supervised a photo shoot to provide photos to use for materials, websites, etc. *Selected new photos and ensured large exhibit design completion in time for client conference. *Maintained a photo library easily accessible for all staff and fielded numerous requests per month. *Wrote a graphic style guide utilized by staff and maintained a writing style guide. *Ensured quality assurance of WTC logo usage by staff or externally per client’s request. *Led efforts in updating all materials and organized a shipment of new materials to staff across the country.*Worked with a vendor to design an online marketing material ordering system to provide all staff easy access to materials for their events and allow WTC to manage quantities, costs and re-ordering metrics.*Managed material ordering budget, maintained inventory, coordinated updates to the system and wrote two standard operating procedures for the system. *Reviewed and wrote blogs for both WTC and AW2 blogs. *Interviewed 25 soldiers, veterans and staff about the AW2 tagline effectiveness, analyzed survey findings to produce a recommendation briefing, succeeded in acquiring the AW2 Director approval, and briefed the WTC Commander per the request of the AW2 Director. *Established a WTC/AW2 working group to achieve concurrence on AW2 messaging to maintain the same tagline but emphasized the AW2 Director’s new vision and re-worked AW2 materials to support messaging.

Alexandria, Va

As part of the Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) Strategic Communication Team, she supported branding, publication and communication planning efforts. *Researched and wrote six medical factsheets on the most prevalent conditions of wounded, ill and injured soldiers. *Wrote five program factsheets for AW2’s rebranding efforts and coordinated translation of one factsheet into Spanish. *Coordinated design, approval and printing of factsheets, brochures, flyers and maps (recipient of the 2009 Astrid Award: Excellence in Design “Gold”). *Became lead for all AW2 publication efforts, to include ordering all promotional items. *Supported marketing material mailings to Advocates across the United States. *Wrote content, organized and coordinated approval for the new AW2 website. *Coordinated approval of AW2 Affiliate Plan and coordinated design and approval of the AW2 Affiliate Plan brochure. *Wrote the AW2 Ambassador Implementation Plan to provide structure and guidelines for volunteer support of AW2. *Reviewed marketing materials and supported AW2 Symposium planning efforts. *Coordinated with AW2 Quality Assurance specialists and provided reports for an AW2 survey on SurveyMonkey. *Designed, planned, edited and wrote the first print quarterly newsletter (recipient of the 2009 Astrid Award: Excellence in Design “Honors” and 2009 Communicator Award: 2009 Silver Award of Distinction). *Led monthly meetings, collected article submissions, researched pertinent news, wrote articles, coordinated approvals, and created monthly Advocate and bi-monthly soldier and family e-newsletters to upload and forward electronically through Bronto. *Wrote a step-by-step manual on newsletter procedures/style guide, wrote blogs, and supported social media planning.

Falls Church, Va

As a Strategic Communications Consultant, supported Force Health Protection & Readiness (FHP&R) of the Department of Defense, Health Affairs and fostered strong working relationships with military doctors and government civilian clients. Responsibilities included:*Wrote content for the Military Health System (MHS) and FHP&R websites and FHP&R magazine. *Successfully supported three capability areas (Civil-Military Medicine, Deployment Technologies and Support Programs, and Operational Medicine and Medical Force Readiness) by reviewing/editing briefings, attending meetings and media interviews, researching and writing content as requested, and writing/updating information papers for congressional testimony. *Created presentations, coordinated location and time, and acquired guest speakers for the Presidential Classroom (high school-aged student educational program) visit to the FHP&R office. *Supported MHS and FHP&R conferences and assisted with Veteran Service Organizations/Military Service Organization and Risk Communication monthly meetings.

Arlington, Va

As an External Affairs Analyst, I supported missile programs and business operations offices within the Navy and Missile Defense Agency for seven years including: Congressional/Public Affairs Officer of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program Office, the director for Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Agency Operations Program Liaison (DOBL), MDA Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KI) Program's Business Financial Manager (BFM) and Program Manager (PM), and Navy Area Theater Ballistic Missile Defense (TBMD) Program Office. Responsibilities included:*Coordinated congressional and Government Accountability Office requests, briefings, site visits, letters and meetings and tracked language/reports and conveyed findings to clients. *Edited, designed and coordinated informational booklet and printing for annual missile defense conference attendees, new employees, members of Congress, the media and the general public. *Wrote/edited/coordinated articles and newsletters. *Supported client in the establishment and execution of processes, procedures and reports to monitor program financial, technical and schedule performance and assisted in draft development, tracking and coordination of programmatic documentation. *Coordinated, drafted and edited press releases, public affairs plans, submissions for publication; tracked media coverage and reported findings; and coordinated updates to Intranet site and brochures.

Arlington, Va

As a Public Affairs Analyst, she provided public affairs support to the Congressional, Public Affairs and Audits/Investigations division of the U.S. Navy Program Executive Officer for Theater Surface Combatants (PEO TSC). *Coordinated, drafted and edited the Horizon newsletter, the Congressional & Public Affairs Weekly Update and the monthly “Good News,” which highlighted accomplishments of programs within PEO TSC. *Updated the public affairs sections of the PEO TSC Intranet and Internet sites for public viewing. Coordinated the release of information/press releases to outside publications along with the review of technical data. *Tracked pertinent information affecting PEO TSC in the media and reported findings to appropriate program offices.

Bachelor'S Degree, Communication Studies

Activities and Societies: Journalism (minor)

Honors Diploma