BARBARA A. GOODNO

Program Director, Public Affairs and Outreach

Barbara A. Goodno serves as the Program Director of Public Affairs and Outreach in the Deployment Health Support Directorate. The directorate supports the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses, Medical Readiness and Military Deployments. Ms. Goodno is responsible for facilitating communication with servicemembers and veterans; their families; veterans and military service organizations; and the public. She assumed her current position in December 2000. Prior to her appointment, she served for four years as the Deputy Director of Public Affairs and team leader in the Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses, Medical Readiness and Military Deployments.

Ms. Goodno has spent more than 27 years directing, teaching, and coaching, and has extensive media relations experience on an international and national level. She has developed systems for military personnel managers and public affairs teams, and has created instructional programs for adults, teens, and young children. She holds a Master of Arts degree in journalism (news-editing) from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in early childhood education from Moorhead State University. She is a graduate of the Defense Information School.

A distinguished military graduate, Ms. Goodno was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army in 1979. Her diverse military career includes assignments as a military intelligence officer in Arizona, Massachusetts and the Federal Republic of Germany. As a personnel officer, she served in Texas and the Republic of Panama. As a public affairs officer, she was assigned to the Department of the Army Staff in the Army Public Affairs Office and served as chief, Command Information Services Section; chief, Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army Office; and Army spokesperson in the Media Relations Division. During the Gulf War, she served as the U.S. Army's primary spokesperson for personnel issues. She responded to thousands of local, national and international media inquiries, improving public understanding and support during and following Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

In both military and civilian capacities, Ms. Goodno has served as a reporter, feature writer and editor. Publications include: GulfNEWS; the U.S. Army's Officer's Call, NCO Call, and Public Affairs Monthly Update; Thursday's Child, a newsletter for adoptive families; and Child Care Resources, a magazine for early childhood educators. Her speech, "Women in the Military: A Proud Heritage," is posted on-line in Gifts of Speech: Women's Speeches from Around the World.

Ms. Goodno is a member of the National Association of Government Communicators, Public Relations Society of America, and a Charter Member of Women in Military Service for America. She is a certified rifle instructor.