Full Name
Matthew Kroll
Job Title
Public Affairs Officer, Commander
Company
US Coast Guard
Speaker Bio
Matt Kroll has more than 21 years of communication experience as a senior Public Affairs Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard working with federal, state and local government agencies on a variety of national-level public relations campaigns. Currently the Director of the Coast Guard's Motion Picture and Television Liaison Office in Los Angeles, he oversees all assistance to and participation with entertainment productions, social media influencers and book authors. He previously managed communications teams as the Public Affairs Officer for the Southwest region (California, Arizona, Nevada & Utah) and was most recently the service's Chief of Media Relations and principal spokesperson in Washington, DC. He began his professional career as a radio broadcaster before enlisting in the Coast Guard. Shortly after joining, Matt was selected for flight school and flew the MH-65 “Dolphin” helicopter as aircraft commander and instructor pilot. During that time, he also served as the unit public affairs officer for Air Station San Francisco and Air Station Atlantic city.
An expert on crisis and disaster communications, he earned a Public Information Officer (PIO) certification for Type-I incidents (highest level) and led public information efforts for Hurricane Harvey in Texas, Hurricane Lane in Hawaii, the Conception Dive Boat fire in California and the Key Bridge collapse in Maryland. Matt is also completing FEMA’s Executive Public Information Officer program, the pinnacle of training for public sector communicators.
Academically, Matt earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies and a Master of Arts in Communications. He researched and published numerous articles documenting notable government communicators and the Coast Guard’s public relations program. He currently teaches communications, journalism, and public relations courses at multiple universities as an adjunct professor, has been featured on multiple communications podcasts, and co-authored the book Public Relations in the Military: The Scope, Dynamic, and Future of Military Communications.
An expert on crisis and disaster communications, he earned a Public Information Officer (PIO) certification for Type-I incidents (highest level) and led public information efforts for Hurricane Harvey in Texas, Hurricane Lane in Hawaii, the Conception Dive Boat fire in California and the Key Bridge collapse in Maryland. Matt is also completing FEMA’s Executive Public Information Officer program, the pinnacle of training for public sector communicators.
Academically, Matt earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies and a Master of Arts in Communications. He researched and published numerous articles documenting notable government communicators and the Coast Guard’s public relations program. He currently teaches communications, journalism, and public relations courses at multiple universities as an adjunct professor, has been featured on multiple communications podcasts, and co-authored the book Public Relations in the Military: The Scope, Dynamic, and Future of Military Communications.
Speaking At
