Title: Public Relations Officer
Company: American Legion Post 284
Location: Chester, Virginia, United States
Richard M. Cole, public relations officer at American Legion Post 284, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Military for dedication, achievements, and leadership in the Air Force.
With 54 years of experience to his credit, Mr. Cole has excelled as a public relations officer, historian, and photographer for the American Legion Riders Post 177 from 2017 to 2019. He began his career in the United States Air Force, serving between 1970 and 1992 in a number of roles, including airman first class, sergeant, wing historian, B-52G electronic warfare officer, deputy chief of the Wing Intelligence Division, chief of the Public Affairs Division, liaison officer, spokesman for the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs, and deputy chief of the Resource Management Division. He retired at the rank of major.
Mr. Cole continued his career as an announcer and news reporter for WTBF Radio from 1975 to 1978. He served as the director of communications at the Earth Science Support Office of Birch & Davis Associates, Inc. in 1993. He contributed as a public affairs specialist at the On-Site Inspection Agency from 1994 to 1998 and at Naval Sea Systems Command from 1998 to 2000. Between 2002 and 2014, he established himself in a variety of additional roles, including as a strategic communications analyst at MPRI, a photography instructor at the Fairfax County Park Authority, chief of public affairs and acting director at the Defense Contract Management Agency, adjunct assistant professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus, chief of public affairs of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and strategic communications associate at Booz Allen Hamilton.
Before embarking on his professional path, Mr. Cole pursued an education at Los Angeles City College, where he earned an associate degree in broadcasting in 1975. He continued his academic efforts at Troy University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in journalism, magna cum laude, in 1978. He concluded his studies at Syracuse University, graduating with a Master of Science in mass communications in 1985. He holds a certification in graduate-level music business courses from the Berklee School of Music.
In light of his impressive undertakings, Mr. Cole has accrued several accolades throughout his career. He was presented with 17 awards related to his honorable military career, 13 communicator awards from the International Academy of Visual Arts, and more than 20 additional awards and commendations from a variety of organizations, including the American Legion, the Aviation/Space Writers Association, the League of American Communications Professionals, the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, the Association for Women in Communications, the International Association of Business Communicators, the National Association of Government Communicators, and others.
For more information, please visit:
Contact Mr. Cole:
