Cmdr. Matthew Kroll - Chief of Media Relations - US Coast Guard

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Commander Matthew Kroll, U.S. Coast Guard

 Matthew currently serves as the Chief of Media Relations and is the primary 

spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard. He has more than 18 years of operational and public relations experience in the military. Originally from Southern California, Matthew received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications Studies from Sonoma State University and a Master of Arts in Communications from San Diego State University. 

He began his professional career as a radio broadcaster before enlisting in the Coast Guard. Shortly after joining, Matthew was selected for Officer Candidate School, received his “wings of gold”, and flew the MH-65 “Dolphin” helicopter as aircraft commander and instructor pilot. He served as the unit public affairs officer at Air Station San Francisco and Air Station Atlantic city before being selected for the Coast Guard’s public affairs advanced education program. Upon completion of his graduate degree, Matthew managed all external communications for the Eleventh Coast Guard District, which includes the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah, as well as all rescue and counter-narcotics operations in the international waters of the Pacific Ocean off Central and South America.

            Specializing in crisis communications, he led public information teams for multiple national-level incidents including Hurricane Harvey in Texas, Hurricane Lane in Hawaii, and the Conception Dive Boat fire in California. An expert on Coast Guard public affairs history, Matthew researched and published multiple articles documenting the service’s notable communicators and overall public relations program.

            Matthew holds a Public Information Officer (PIO) qualification for type-I incidents (highest level), is an adjunct communications professor, and has been recognized with multiple awards from the Coast Guard.

Commander Kroll's book  - Public Relations in the Military
Commander Kroll's LinkedIn

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