Resume

Mickey McCarter

Washington, D.C. 20016

E-mail: mickey.mccarter (AT) gmail.com 

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY:

Security Industry Association (SIA), Silver Spring, Md.
Communications and public relations manager (2013-now)

• Coordinate with stakeholders to produce external and internal communications campaigns.
• Manage external communications to include press releases and public relations activities.
• Manage internal communications to association staff and members.
• Proofread and spellcheck large volume of communications, including internal newsletters, white papers and blogs across print and web media.
• Write, edit or solicit columns for placement in third-party media.
• Write speeches, formal correspondence and other materials as required.
• Provide trade show communications support to include press management and coordination for large shows such as ISC West, ISC East, Securing New Ground and SIA Government Summit.
• Manage SIA social media presence on Twitter and LinkedIn.
• Support other association activities as requested.

Homeland Security Today, Washington, D.C.

Editor/Washington correspondent (2004-2013)

• Served as one-man news bureau in Washington, D.C., for daily coverage of homeland security news at HSToday.us. 
• Reported on hearings and legislative business on Capitol Hill regarding homeland security and related affairs. 
• Conceived, researched and reported enterprise concepts on inner workings of the US Department of Homeland Security and related organizations. 
• Served as editor for companion bimonthly publication, National Guard Today, working on homeland defense issues with states, assigning and editing copy for publication.
• Regularly interviewed top officials, congressional lawmakers and corporate executives on homeland security issues.
• Followed in-house style guide, copy edited magazine and web material, and fact-checked research. 
• Managed web content management system for daily site updates. Produced content for search engine optimization, zeroing in on keywords and meta-tagging stories appropriately.
• Appeared on television and radio programs, such as News Channel 8 and WTOP radio in Washington, as homeland security commentator. 
• Moderated panels and speak on topical issues at Washington-based homeland security conferences.

Kerrigan Media International, Rockville, Md.

Freelance reporter/editor (2002-2006)

• Reported and edited news and feature articles for stable of magazines dedicated to military technology issues, including those dealing with information technology, training, special operations and aircraft.
• Developed and wrote features on technology used in war on terrorism, Operation Iraqi Freedom and other sweeping military initiatives.
• As editor for Defense Consulting and Outsourcing magazine, managed story budget, assignments and editing. Assigned stories regarding consultants and defense industrial base to freelancers, providing direction, contacts and tips. 
• Met regularly with top industry consultants and conversed with military customers of those consultants to target the magazine to their needs.
• Compiled e-mail newsletter of content published in print magazine.

Congressional Quarterly, Washington, D.C.

Data Editor (2004-2005)

Radio correspondent (2004-2005)

• Edited website content for CQ Homeland Security website at homeland.cq.com, including news stories, schedules, Congressional bill summaries, notices, organization trees and other information.
• Produced morning and afternoon e-mail newsletters on homeland security for subscribers. 
• Served as the traffic manager and content management specialist for arrangement of all content on the website using customized content management system via QPS CopyDesk. 
• Wrote daily news articles to freshen afternoon newsletter update.

iDefense, Chantilly, Va.

Editor (2002-2004)

• Wrote and edited federal government and computer security reports for government and corporate clients, tracking computer security efforts of U.S. Secret Service, FBI and others for website and newsletters.
• Refocused newsroom operations on proprietary content rather than rewrites of freely available news, sparking greater customer interest. 
• Coordinated development of a network of sources that provided scoops, warnings and insight into computer security news. 
• Utilized a Netscape content management system to maintain and update web offerings and newsletter.
• Enforced strategic vision and style standards while enforcing daily deadlines and goals. 
• Wrote and edited targeted content for e-mail newsletters and website.
• Tracked story budget for full-time and freelance employees.

Victory Media Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa.

Managing Editor/Bureau Chief/Reporter (2000-2004)

• Helped to establish military affairs news bureau in Washington, D.C., for Pittsburgh-based startup, formerly Stars and Stripes Omnimedia. 
• Hired and trained reporters and editors. 
• Directed news operation of nine full-time employees and four freelance contributors to include story assignments, resource management, coordinating editorial meetings and many other daily tasks in support of Stripes.com. 
• Wrote and edited news copy on daily deadlines for The Stars and Stripes newspaper, GI Jobs magazine, websites and daily e-mail newsletters. 
• Used customized content management system for website updates. 
• Recruited Miss America 2000 as marketing spokesperson and coordinated her activities. 
• Served as editorial spokesperson and public affairs liaison to potential commerce partners and government agencies. 
• Produced segments for weekly radio program Veterans Radio Network, which was carried on Business Talk Radio. Regularly appeared on radio programs as expert/guest. 
• Produced and edited video and audio clips for news website.

United States Navy

Enlisted in the U.S. Navy for four years. Honorably discharged.

Bureau of Naval Personnel, Washington, D.C.

Editor (1996-1998)

• Researched, wrote and edited investigative reports for clients such as Congress, the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations in high-profile military office.  
• Created and maintained filing system to help meet or exceed deadlines for reports. 
• Wrote and edited military reports and proposals. 
• Designed and implemented Navy websites to promote Naval health directives. 
• Maintained websites and responded to customer inquiries about them. 

Mine Warfare Command, Ingleside, Texas

Yeoman/Editor (1994-1996)

• Managed administrative office of busy naval command. 
• Wrote and edited daily personnel reports and records, correspondence and ships plans. 
• Served as a member of the minesweeping crew, fulfilling a wide variety of duties during minesweeping operations.
• Wrote and edited daily newsletter detailing ships operation. 
• Received National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

SPECIAL SKILLS:

Content management

o HTML

o Dreamweaver

o Joomla

o WordPress

o Other CMS

Adobe Creative Cloud

Microsoft Office

Desktop publishing

Sound editing

Digital/linear film editing 

Cision

Email communications platforms

o RealMagnet

o Informz

o Constant Contact

EDUCATION:

American University, Washington, D.C., August 1999

M.A., Journalism and Public Affairs; GPA: 3.8/4.0 

University of Delaware, Newark, Del., May 1993

B.A., Political Science

AFFILIATIONS:

Mensa (1999-present)

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