Michael Arnone

Public Sector Strategic Communications Professional

ma4ba246@westpost.net
Summary
Accomplished strategic communications professional with interim SECRET security
clearance and
more than 13 years public relations and reporting experience in numerous fields,
including homeland
security, technology, defense/aerospace and government. Strengths include
media/government/analyst relations, reputation/issues management, writing/editin
g and social media.
Proven record of success fostering proactive, issue-focused communications acros
s multiple
audiences and stakeholders. Detail-oriented and goal-focused. Work on own and as
part of a team to
consistently exceed expectations through most-effective blend of services.
Specialties
Strategic Communications * Media Relations * Government Relations * Analyst Rela
tions *
Reputation Management * Social Media * Media Training * Writing/Editing * Homela
nd Security *
Defense/Aerospace * Information Technology * Cybersecurity * Security Technologi
es * Emergency
Preparedness/Response * Critical Infrastructure Protection * Government * Higher
Education * Law
Enforcement Technology * Identity Management * Federal Legislation, Policy & Pro
curement
Experience
Senior Technical Writer/Editor at Knowledge Advantage Inc.
March 2010 - Present (3 months)
Authored chapter on preparedness and prevention for Air Force Follow On Review
(AF FOR) to
DoD Independent Review Panel related to mass shooting at Ft. Hood, Texas
Provided technical writing, editing and research services to interdisciplinary
group of senior
officers and civilians reporting to a four-star general
Ensured AF FOR team presented data and recommendations as clearly and compellin
gly as
possible to win support of multiple stakeholders in the military, government, in
dustry and the public
Consultant at Ponemon Institute
February 2010 - Present (4 months)
Provide strategic communication, writing and editing services to globally respe
cted consulting firm
specializing in IT security and privacy issues
Enhance Ponemons ability to demonstrate its thought leadership on key issues an
d current data
protection challenges in multiple industry sectors
Conduct research and interviews to write survey reports, white papers, customer
case studies and
other documents. Create original documents and revise existing material
Coordinate with Ponemon senior staff and interview subjects to ensure most effe
ctive content and
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presentation
Consultant at PGP Corporation
October 2009 - Present (8 months)
Provide strategic communication, writing and editing services to global softwar
e firm specializing
in email and data encryption products and services to prevent enterprise data lo
ss
Enhance PGPs ability to demonstrate its thought leadership on key issues and ho
w its products
and solutions effectively address current data protection challenges in multiple
industry sectors
Conduct research and interviews to write industry briefs, customer case studies
and press
releases. Create original documents and revise existing material
Coordinate with PGP marketing staff and interview subjects to ensure most effec
tive content and
presentation
Consultant at Validus Public Relations
January 2009 - Present (1 year 5 months)
Develop and implement strategic planning, media relations and corporate positio
ning for public
relations firm specializing in the defense, technology, homeland security and pu
blic safety sectors
Produce internal and external communications materials including spokesperson m
essaging
documents, media plans, contributed articles/white papers and others
Worked with Validus team of eight including a former CIA PR director and other
respected
industry experts to complete a 2009 direct DOD contract to conduct market resea
rch and develop
a strategic communications plan to accelerate the adoption and implementation of
Suite B elliptic
curve-based encryption
Develop and implement social media strategic communications strategy for global
food policy
think tank
Develop and implement communications strategies to win the support of major sta
keholders
Oversaw and coordinated media outreach program for Washington, D.C., office of
influential
international law firm (Foley & Lardner LLP)
Consultant at Merritt Group
June 2009 - October 2009 (5 months)
Provided strategic communication, writing and editing services to public relati
ons firm specializing
in the government, technology, communications and healthcare sectors
Enhanced PGP Corporations ability to demonstrate its thought leadership on key
issues and how
its products and solutions effectively address current data protection challenge
s in multiple industry
sectors
Conducted research and interviews to write industry briefs, customer case studi
es and press
releases. Created original documents and revised existing material
Coordinated with senior Merritt Group & PGP marketing staff and interview subje
cts to ensure
most effective content and presentation about PGP clients, including U.S. Depart
ment of Education
and ETS
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Consultant at Merritt Group (on behalf of Mainstream GS, LLC)
February 2009 - March 2009 (2 months)
Co-led multi-company team on government contract to help write and edit report
for the Secretary
of the Air Force (SECAF): the Air Force Comprehensive Assessment of Nuclear Sust
ainment II
(AFCANS II)
Helped interdisciplinary group of senior officers and civilians address SECAFs
stated #1 priority:
restoring a zero-defect culture to Air Force nuclear safety, surety (preparednes
s) and reliability
practices
Ensured document discussed relevant national and homeland security angles to nu
clear surety
and included actionable recommendations to address them
Implemented the Air Forces AFSO21 Problem Solving Model (based on Toyota
process-improvement methods) to help team identify root causes of problems and r
ecommend
effective long-term solutions
Ensured AFCANS II team presented data and recommendations as clearly and compel
lingly as
possible to win support of multiple stakeholders in the military, government, in
dustry and the public
Granted interim SECRET clearance through DoD. Granted NATO SECRET access for pr
oject
only. Received official letter of commendation from Everett H. Thomas, Brigadier
General, USAF
and AFCANS II Chair
Freelance Writer at Homeland Defense Journal
January 2009 - February 2009 (2 months)
Developed thought-provoking technology-focused articles for top-tier homeland s
ecurity trade
magazine
Wrote two features on interoperable communications for emergency responders sin
ce Hurricane
Katrina
Worked closely with DHS Public Affairs to interview Chris Essid, OEC Director,
and DUSIA Chet
Lunner for inclusion in articles
Senior Account Executive at Connect Public Relations
January 2007 - January 2009 (2 years 1 month)
Supervised Washington, D.C.-area office of international public relations firm
specializing in
information technology and telecommunications companies
Developed and managed outreach strategy to all government and education media f
or largest
federal cybersecurity provider and fourth-largest software company in the world,
Symantec
Corporation
Developed and managed outreach strategy to top IT trade magazines covering key
information
security technologies for Symantec, including encryption
Researched federal IT programs, operations and policy to ensure outreach met fe
deral needs
Developed and implemented communications strategies to win the support of major
stakeholders
Produced internal and external communications materials including spokesperson
messaging
documents, media plans, contributed articles/white papers, blog posts and others
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Garnered six times more media coverage for Symantec Government Relations unit i
n one year
than it had received in the previous six years
Significantly increased inclusion and positive media coverage in key publicatio
ns of Symantec
Public Sector, Managed Security Services and Endpoint Security activities
 Reinforced Symantecs thought leadership and reputation as a voice of reason on
key public
sector, policy and IT security issues
Incorporated blogs, wikis, Twitter and other social media/Web 2.0 technologies
into internal, client
and media activities to encourage collaboration, information sharing and product
ivity
Director at Jefferson Consulting Group
August 2006 - December 2006 (5 months)
Counseled senior management on communications, marketing and market assessment
for
international federal marketing/lobbying/contracting firm. Analyzed federal issu
es for business
opportunities
Advised contractor to U.S. Coast Guard on effective marketing and media outreac
h
Supervised account and helped coordinate national media outreach for large mili
tary healthcare
provider
Created and co-supervised teams to revamp firms Web site and develop new lines
of business to
diversify firms revenue and services. Identified and pitched new business leads
Freelance Writer and Editor at Multiple Clients
November 2004 - October 2006 (2 years)
Assist small- and medium-sized companies with writing, editing and media strate
gy
Help clients define their goals and develop the best message, facts and tone to
reach them
Reporter at Federal Computer Week
March 2005 - July 2006 (1 year 5 months)
Chief correspondent covering homeland security, cybersecurity and security tech
nology for
leading trade magazine for federal information technology managers and companies
that sell
information technology to the U.S. government
Developed and implemented news strategy for the Web and in print. Handled multi
ple
assignments concurrently
Liaised with government officials, vendors, public relations contacts and subje
ct matter experts to
stay current on numerous subject areas. Discovered trends, issues and people of
note and
communicated to readers about them in creative, compelling ways
Wrote breaking news stories and in-depth analysis pieces containing original re
search to inform
readers of important news
Worked independently, and as part of team, with senior management to explain co
mplicated ideas
clearly, concisely and accurately. Collaborated effectively and amiably on deadl
ine with all levels of
organization
2 recommendations available upon request
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Staff Reporter at The Chronicle of Higher Education
August 2001 - November 2004 (3 years 4 months)
Researched and wrote original articles for the newspaper of record for American
colleges
Developed and covered homeland security, information technology and legal beats
Worked independently and as part of an editorial team with upper management
Ensured factual accuracy and compliance with organizational style
Freelance Writer at Christian Science Monitor
February 2001 - February 2001
Explained complicated nature of on the record/off the record in a nationally di
stributed editorial
about Al Gore teaching at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Staff Writer/Editor at The Times of Trenton (NJ)
July 1998 - June 2000 (2 years)
Award-winning, nationally distributed reporter for capitals lead daily newspape
r. Beats included
government, transportation, schools, utilities, business, arts and science
Energized dormant religion beat by writing regular features
Explored local angles to national and international news events
Assistant Editor at The Pennington Post (NJ)
June 1996 - July 1998 (2 years 2 months)
Award-winning primary reporter and photographer for small hometown weekly newsp
aper. Set
new standards for reporting, writing and photography
Competed successfully with regional daily and weekly newspapers to break news s
tories,
investigate important trends and increase community pride
Education
Columbia University - Graduate School of Journalism
MS, Journalism, 2000 - 2001
Activities and Societies: Managed diverse team that produced professional-quali
ty online
magazines
Acted as class spokesman to national press about Al Gore
University of Notre Dame
BA, Liberal Studies, 1990 - 1994
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Honors and Awards
FELLOWSHIP
American Council on Germany 8/02 9/02
Traveled solo for 30 days to interview privacy experts in 7 German cities for p
restigious McCloy
international journalism fellowship
Discovered that U.S. security policies after September 11 made German informati
on-privacy laws
less protective
AWARDS
Feature Writing, 2nd Place, North Jersey Press Club 1999
Best Treatment of a Dull and Tired Topic, 2nd Place, New Jersey Press Associati
on 1997
Robert P. Kelly Competition for First-Year Journalists, 3rd Place, NJPA 1996
MEMORABLE DISTINCTION: Five-time JEOPARDY! game show champion, 1/01
Highest single-day champion, 2000-1 season
Participant, JEOPARDY! Ultimate Tournament of Champions, 2/05
Interests
COMPUTER SKILLS
Microsoft Windows XP/Vista, Office 2003/2007
Facebook, Twitter and other social media
Extensive online research skills, including using Google and other search engin
es
LANGUAGES
Proficient in French, Basic knowledge of German, Hungarian, and Italian