CC President awards membership to new DINFOS grads

Pictured are, front row (l-r): Capt. Laura Pattawi, Staff Sgt. Brian Kester and 2nd Lt. John McCombs; back row: Oliver, 2nd Lt. George McArthur, Jeff Sisto, President Hauptfleisch, 2nd Lt. James Killen and Jordan. Sisto and Killen fall into the “once a Marine – always a Marine” category, a distinction the DINFOS faculty is proud to acknowledge when presenting the USMCCCA complimentary one-year memberships upon completion of all entry-level courses. Photo by Rick Corral

National CC President Bill Hauptfleisch, along with life members Keith Oliver and Bob Jordan, personally welcomed six newly-minted public affairs leaders into the USMCCCA just prior to graduation ceremonies in the Public Affairs Leadership Department on March 14.

Guest speaker for the event was retired Maj. Pat Gibbons, now posted as chief communications officer at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. A former Marine staff sergeant and University of Florida MECP alumnus, Gibbons’ PAO milestones included service in Desert Storm and postings as the DINFOS Senior Marine, Media Branch Head at HQMC and Public Affairs Advisor to the Commandant.