ALMARAH K.

BELK, APR
3612 Becherer Road a" Alexandria, VA 22309 a" (hm) 703-799-2625 a" (mobile) 703-
216-0543
abcce86a@westpost.net
Senior Accredited Public Relations and Communication Professional
QUALIFICATION SUMMARY
Highly experienced and accomplished public relations and communication executive
Accredited in Public Relations (APR) by the Universal Accreditation Board. Twen
ty years of experience, knowledge and professional judgment formulating and exec
uting communication policy at the highest levels of the U.S. Air Force and the D
epartment of Defense. M.A. in Communication and a proven record and talent for m
anaging fast-paced, high-profile press operations in varying situations. Senior-
level strategist and team builder adept at mentoring and motivating diverse, cro
ss-functional teams to achieve peak levels of performance.
Professional strengths and abilities:
Strategic Communication Planning/Execution
Corporate Advice and Counsel
Media and Stakeholder Relations
International Relations
Communication Research
Risk and Crisis Communication
Congressional Engagement
Active TS/SCI Security Clearance
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) COMMUNICATION EXECUTIVE AND SPOKESPERSON
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 2007- PRESENT
Personally chosen to formulate communication plans and guidance for worldwide mi
litary operations and to explain DoD policy to national and international print,
wire, and broadcast journalists.
-- Coordinated and synchronized communication plans for DoD support to the Repub
lican and Democratic National conventions; H1N1 outbreak; severe wild fires in C
alifornia; earthquake in Haiti; and national air defense operations with other g
overnment branches and departments.
-- Defined DoD role alongside government partners, ensuring coordinated U.S..res
ponse during crises
-- Led communication dialogue during U.S.-Israeli exercises; shared best practic
es, policies, and procedures for communicating during disasters-- Increased U.S.
-Israeli military crisis preparedness for public communication responsibilities
during crisis; expanded close relationship with key ally
-- Led and expeditiously established military communication policy, distributed
guidance to all military components arriving in Haiti following the tragic earth
quake a" provided when needed in dire conditions
COMMUNICATION PLANS EXECUTIVE
OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS, CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS
OF STAFF 2004 a" 2007
Personally chosen to provide communication planning guidance to the Chairman and
senior members of the Joint Staff on all aspects of internal and public communi
cation and to ensure communication was defined and documented as a war fighting
capability in operational directives, instructions, manuals, and doctrine
-- Drastically improved and updated the communication policy in DoD manuals and
joint doctrine
Added critical context to strategic review of operations and the metrics trackin
g process to facilitate an understanding of what is at stake in time of war; cle
arly defined military communication capabilities
-- Authored communication plans for war-time strategy and military force adjustm
ents -- Provided operational communication guidance; specified issues to be dele
gated and those requiring approval
-- Modified operational planning guidance to include military public affairs as
one of 21 Joint Capability Areas; included Military Service Branches and command
ersa views; fostered capabilities-based planning
-- Aggressively championed to include the military role in implementing the ainf
ormationa instrument of national power as a primary element and combat capabilit
y required in military operational planning
-- Member of Iraq Interagency Strategic Communication Working Group -- Increased
interagency confidence in coordinating communication plans during a dynamic, ev
er-changing state of war
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION, HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE
15TH AIRLIFT WING, HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, HAWAII 2003 a" 2004
Communication advisor to the base commander and senior military leaders at Hicka
m Air Force Base, Hawaii, including Johnston Atoll Airfield, Bellows Air Force S
tation, and 140 associate and tenant units
-- Inspired and led team of communication professionals and operational budget f
or day-to-day communication functions; actively engaged with local media, commun
ity, and Congressional delegation; produced 40-page newspaper, commandersa TV ch
annel facilitating flow of information
-- Perfectly executed over $100K in end-of-year money to streamline, reorganize
and relocate the communication directorate a" Rejuvenated and inspired communica
tion team to award-winning level
-- Developed, managed and grew the communication plan to bring first-ever overse
as squadron of C-17 cargo aircraft to Hawaii a" demonstrated value of having a m
obility hub and strategic airlift available to the joint war fighter in the Paci
fic, as well as the Pacific region for potential response to crises
-- Deployed to the Coalition Provisional Authority, Baghdad, Iraq as a Public Af
fairs Strategic Communication Planner - Dec 2003 a" Apr 2004 -- Led and managed
massive, historic education and advertising campaign for Iraqas transition to de
mocracy; spearheaded intense, time-compressed process to award of a $5.8M multi-
national contract; built foundation for reaching millions across the Middle East
, specifically 25 million Iraqi people -- urged participation in a legitimate el
ectoral process
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION PLANNER
HQTRS, PACIFIC AIR FORCES
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, HAWAII 2001 a" 2003
Advised director and nine offices on wartime and contingency communication strat
egy, policy, and plans
-- Planned and tracked plans and personnel resources for Air Force communication
requirements worldwide a" Ensured 100% fulfillment of Air Force requirements in
support of contingency operations
-- Following the tragic events on 9/11, deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saud
i Arabia to support pre-war communication planning Sep a" Dec 2002 a" Infused co
mmunication into operational planning
-- Recognized as the Pacific Air Forces Senior Air Force Communication Executive
of the Year for 2002
PREVIOUS MILITARY AND CIVILIAN EXPERIENCE (1986-2001)
-- Executive assistant to Director of Public Affairs for the U.S. Air Force (199
9-2001)
Recognized as the U.S. Air Force Mid-Grade Communication Executive of the Year f
or 2000 and 2001
-- Chief, Communication Research and Evaluation Branch, U.S. Air Force Public Af
fairs (1998-1999)
-- Student, Air Force Institute of Technology Civilian Institution Program, Univ
ersity of Colorado in Colorado Springs, Earned M.A. in Communication (1996-1998)
-- Director of Communication, 425th Air Base Squadron, Izmir Air Station, Turkey
(1994-1996)
-- Deputy Director of Communication and Chief of Operations, 50th Space Wing, Sc
hriever Air Force Base, Colorado (1991-1994) upon entering Active Duty Service i
n the U.S. Air Force
-- Department Sales Manager, Sears, Roebuck & Co (1986-1991)
EDUCATION
Senior and Executive Military Leadership Schools
M.A. in Communication, University of Colorado
B.A in Journalism, University of Central Oklahoma
VOLUNTEERISM
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Public Relations Society of America
Home Ownersa Association
Fairfax County Public Schools
AFFILIATIONS
Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
U.S. Air Force Public Affairs Alumni Association (USAFPAA)