DoDEA Announces Selection of New Communications Chief

The Department of Defense Education Activity announced today the selection of a new Communications Chief to oversee public affairs and related communications operations across the DoDEA enterprise. Mr. William J. Griffin (APR), a public relations professional with both military and civilian experience has been selected.

Mr. Griffin was selected through a competitive process and previously served as the Deputy Communications Chief since December 2018. Prior to that role at DoDEA HQ, he provided oversight for Internal Communications, working to build meaningful engagement platforms and processes for DoDEA employees worldwide. Additionally, from 2016 to 2018, Mr. Griffin was the Public Affairs Officer for the DoDEA – Europe region, responsible for public affairs and school public relations support to DoDEA’s districts and schools in eight countries across Europe.

In his new role, Mr. Griffin will be responsible for the planning, initiation, direction, coordination, staff supervision, execution and review of the DoDEA Communications Program. DoDEA’s comprehensive school public relations program includes the functional areas of public affairs and media relations; internal information; public facing website services and operation; marketing support; motion media/video services; and graphics services. In his new capacity, he will serve as the as the principal communication adviser to the Director and senior DoDEA leaders, and the chief spokesperson for the school system.

DoDEA Director Tom Brady expressed confidence in his new Communication Chief.

“Will Griffin is an excellent communicator and well-positioned to lead our communications effort forward,” said Brady. “He has a proven record of success in school communications and on the ground experience from his time in Europe. Will has been a top performer on the Communications Team, has a real appreciation for education and student achievement, and values the importance of transparent and open communication with employees. I am thrilled to have such a high-quality talent lead our Communications Division.”

Mr. Griffin is a summa cum laude graduate of Saint Leo University and holds a professional Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America. The APR credential is a rigorous accreditation that asserts professional competence and reflects progressive public relations/communication industry practices and high standards. He is also member of the National School Public Relations Society.

Prior to his DoDEA experiences, Mr. Griffin served on active duty in the United States Army as an airborne infantryman, logistics officer and public affairs officer and retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2015. Over the course of his 25-year military career, Mr. Griffin held a variety of positions with assignments across the continental U.S., Alaska, Korea, Germany and deployments to Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr. Griffin replaces the former Communications Chief, Frank X. O’Gara, who retired on February 3, 2021 following 39 years of service with DoDEA. Mr. O’Gara served as the chief of the Communications Division for DoDEA from 2005 to February 2021.

DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade education programs for school-aged children of Department of Defense personnel who would otherwise not have access to a high-quality public education. DoDEA’s 160 schools are located in Europe, the Pacific, Western Asia, the Middle East, Cuba, the United States, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Educational Activities throughout the U.S. that serve children of military families.