Scott Ghiringhelli

I am currently a Public Affairs Specialist with the 7th Army Training Command in Bavaria, Germany where I work as a public affairs planner for military exercises and events, as well as coordinating outreach and community relations.I previously worked in Media Operations with the U.S. European Command when Russia invaded Ukraine. I came to EUCOM from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Strategy, Plans and Assessment office, where I worked as a public affairs planner during the Corona Virus outbreak. Before working at the Pentagon, I was the Associate Director of Public Affairs & Communications with the U.S. Navy Naval Facilities Engineering Command at the Washington Navy Yard. Before that, I served as the Deputy Public Affairs Officer at Naval Support Activity Bahrain in the Kingdom of Bahrain; the Chief of Public Affairs for the Army Reserve 63rd Regional Support Command at Moffett Field, Mountain View, California; the Strategic Communications Officer at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California; and the Media Relations Officer with the California National Guard Public Affairs Office at the Joint Force Headquarters in Sacramento, California.

I commissioned as a second lieutenant in the California Army National Guard in August of 2006 after completing Officer Candidate School at Camp San Luis Obispo, California. I hold an Associate of Science in Electronic Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force, a Bachelor of Arts in English from the United States International University (now Alliant International University), and a Master of Arts in English: Creative Writing and a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts from California State University, Sacramento.

I began my military career in the United States Air Force and was stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, where I served as a Satellite Communications Technician. My other assignments while serving in the Air Force include Camp Zama, Japan, where I spent six years, and Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, where I mounted and operated tactical satellite communications equipment on C-141 aircraft for the Special Operations Command. I later served in the California Air National Guard, where I attained the rank of staff sergeant (E-5) before commissioning into the California Army National Guard. In April of 2008, I completed the Military Intelligence Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Huachuca, Arizona and subsequently deployed to Camp Rigas Feraios, Kosovo as the Officer in Charge of the Analysis Control Team working with the Hellenic Army. I transferred into the United States Army Reserve in December of 2011 and completed the Civil Affairs Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina before deploying to Afghanistan. While deployed to Afghanistan, I served as a Civil Affairs Team Leader and the Commander’s Emergency Relief Program (CERP) Manager for Charley Company 426 Civil Affairs Battalion.

My awards and decorations include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Commendation Medal, U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, U.S. Air Force Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal, Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Service Medal, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Kosovo Campaign Medal with Bronze Star, and NATO Medal.

My other professional experience includes working as a Satellite Communications Technician for Lockheed Martin Space Systems at the Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia satellite tracking station; a writer and student employment coordinator at the California State University, Sacramento Career Center; and Operation Warrior Trainer for the 191st Infantry Brigade, Division West at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

In addition, I continue to develop myself personally having taught an undergraduate writing course with the University of Maryland University College as an adjunct professor; attended courses in public policy with the Brookings Institution; served as the communications liaison on the Peace and Security Committee with the United Nations Association National Capital Area; performed volunteer work writing and editing for the United Nations Development Program, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the Wilson Center, Kennan Institute, Focus Ukraine; and interned as a ghost writer for a literary agent.

I have lived and worked throughout the world in Japan, Australia, Mexico, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Bahrain and Germany. While living abroad and during my education, I have become conversational in Japanese, Spanish, and German while studying at the University of Maryland; United States International University; California State University, Sacramento; and the Goethe Institute.

I am supported by my lovely wife, Jennifer.