As the Vice Chief of Information, Rear Adm. Beck was in charge of leading the Navy Reserve Public Affairs program worldwide. He was the primary advisor and principal reserve liaison to the Chief of Information, responsible for formulating and providing strategic communication counsel to Navy leadership.

Beck was mobilized twice in recent years to run the international news and public affairs operations during the surges in Afghanistan and Iraq.  In Kabul, he was the director of Public Affairs for headquarters NATO, International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan from November 2010 to September 2011.  In Baghdad, he was the chief of Media Operations at headquarters Multi-National Force Iraq from August 2007 to April 2008.  In Dubai, he was the director of an International Media Engagement Team for U.S. Central Command from April 2007 to August 2007.

Beck was commissioned in 1985 upon graduation from Officer Candidate School. His first shipboard tour was in the Engineering Department aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) where he qualified as a surface warfare officer. He completed a follow-on assignment as navigator of USS Richard E. Byrd (DDG 23) prior to attending the Department of Defense Information School in 1990. During the next two years, Beck was the assistant director of the Navy Office of Information New England located in Boston. He detached from active duty in 1992 and affiliated with the Navy Reserve Navy Office of Information (NR NAVINFO) New England.

He has held various billets during his Reserve service, including operations officer with NR NAVINFO New England, public affairs officer of Navy Readiness Command Northeast, executive officer of NR NAVINFO New York, director of the Naval War College Public Affairs Reserve Unit and director of the Navy Public Affairs Support Element. Beck has also served as an individual mobilization augmentee at U.S. Joint Forces Command and in the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

An award-winning strategic communicator, in his civilian career Beck has held various positions of increasing responsibility in public relations, corporate communications, marketing, media relations and account management at public relations agencies and corporations.

Beck's military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four), and various service and campaign awards.

Last Updated: 3 January 2022