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Navy Public Affairs Support Element

NPAC Leadership

CAPT Richlyn Ivey

CAPT Richlyn Ivey
Commanding Officer

CDR Rochelle A. Rieger

CDR Rochelle A. Rieger
Executive Officer

MCCM Dustin B. Withrow

MCCM Dustin B. Withrow
Command Master Chief

Mission

Navy Public Affairs Command (NPAC) provides policy and program guidance to Fleet Public Affairs Centers who support Fleet and Combatant Commanders world-wide with scalable and immediately deployable force packages trained and equipped to support current and emerging Public Affairs and Visual Information (PA/VI) requirements.

What We Do

NPAC helps enable the operational and strategic communication of the U.S. Navy. Our core functions are threefold:

  • Generate Readiness: We man, train, and equip the Navy's expeditionary Fleet Public Affairs Centers. This ensures our communication forces are prepared with the advanced skills and modern equipment required for global deployment and mission success.
  • Provide Communication Forces: Through our subordinate commands, we provide expert communication personnel to Fleet and Combatant Commanders. These deployable teams are fully integrated into naval operations, providing commanders with critical counsel and the ability to engage the media, key stakeholders, and the public.
  • Develop the Community: As the center of excellence for the public affairs and visual information communities, we develop and deliver a rigorous curriculum for both officers and enlisted personnel. We cultivate strategic communicators capable of navigating complex information environments and advancing the Navy's strategic narrative.

Who We Are

Renamed and reorganized from Navy Public Affairs Support Element Headquarters in February 2026, NPAC is comprised of both uniformed Navy servicemembers, government civilians and contractors. In uniform, NPAC has multiple rates supporting its mission, including Personnel Specialists (PS), Yeoman (YN), Logistics Specialists (LS), Navy Counselors (NC) and Legalmen (LN).

Through its subordinate commands, centers, and detachments, NPAC ensures a ready force of active duty and reserve Public Affairs personnel to deliver critical PA and visual information capabilities to support the priorities of the Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Chief of Information, and commanders across the fleet, component, and joint force.

NPAC Organization:

NPAC is located in Norfolk, VA, and serves as the Immediate Superior in Command (ISIC) to FLTPACENs around the globe.

  • Fleet Public Affairs Center (FLTPACEN) Norfolk, located in Norfolk, VA
  • FLTPACEN Det Rota, located in Rota, Spain
  • FLTPACEN Det Mayport, located in Mayport, FL
  • Fleet Public Affairs Center (FLTPACEN) San Diego, Located in San Diego, CA
  • FLTPACEN Det Pearl Harbor, located in Pearl Harbor, HI
  • Fleet Public Affairs Center (FLTPACEN) Yokosuka, located in Yokosuka, Japan

What are PAOs?Public Affairs Officer image

The primary duties of a Navy Public Affairs Officer (PAO) include:
 

  1. Media Relations: Interacting with journalists and media outlets to provide accurate and timely information about Navy operations, activities, and policies. This often involves conducting interviews, issuing press releases, and coordinating media coverage.
     
  2. Public Relations: Developing and implementing strategies to share the Navy’s story to the public, stakeholders, and communities.
     
  3. Internal Communications: Ensuring effective communication within the command by keeping service members informed about policies, initiatives, and developments. This can include producing newsletters, internal memos, and using digital communication platforms.
     
  4. Crisis Communication: Managing communication during crises or emergencies to provide accurate and timely information to the public in an expeditious manner. This typically involves coordinating with other Navy officials, government agencies, and media to disseminate critical information.
     
  5. Content Creation: Overseeing and guiding various types of content creation such as articles, speeches, social media posts, and multimedia materials to convey Navy messages effectively to different audiences.
     
  6. Strategic Planning: Developing long-term communication plans aligned with Navy goals and objectives. This includes identifying communication priorities, setting objectives, and evaluating the effectiveness of communication efforts.
     
  7. Policy Development: Advising Navy leadership on public affairs policies, regulations, and guidelines. PAOs ensure that communication practices adhere to Navy policies and ethical standards.
     
  8. Training and Education: Providing training and guidance to Navy personnel on public affairs practices, media relations, and communication protocols. This helps ensure consistent messaging and effective communication practices that align with the goals set by the U.S. Navy and the Department of Defense.


Want to learn more about becoming a PAO? Visit the U.S. Navy’s website for more information:

Mass communication specialist image

What are MCs?

Mass Communication Specialists tell the Navy's story to support the commander's overall communication goals. They define communication problems, ideate solutions, create multimedia products, and evaluate the success of media campaigns. MCs conduct research and identify target audiences, design print publications and digital media products, and create illustrations and graphics. They develop multimedia content including video, still images, digital graphics, web products, news and feature stories, blogs, and press releases. In addition, they create media project plans and communication plans, and evaluate the success of these plans and campaigns by conducting research, analyzing data, and providing feedback to leadership. Senior MCs serve as communication advisors to commanders, developing content strategies, creating data stories, and optimizing communication solutions. Senior MCs also prepare unit commanders for media interaction, press conferences and public speaking. Additionally, they may speak to the press on behalf of their command.
 

What They Do

The duties performed by MCs include:

  • Prepare and write news and feature articles for publication
  • Photograph events for publication and historic documentation
  • Operate and maintain a variety of state-of-the-art still and video cameras
  • Operate computer-based graphics software and desktop publishing systems
  • Create original visual information displays and graphics
  • Multi-media design and production
  • Design and manage public and secure websites
  • Layout and design military newspapers and magazines
  • Manage radio and television stations
  • Operate video and electronic imaging equipment
  • Operate digital electronic reproduction equipment
  • Edit video news, features, and documentation
  • Shoot still photographs and video for accident or incident investigations
  • Conduct interviews
  • Market stories

 

Want to learn more about becoming a MC? Visit the U.S. Navy’s website for more information:

 

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