Brandon Bissell

Chief Operating Officer @ The VMI Alumni Association

About

✪ OVERVIEWOver 20 years of experience providing leadership, directing strategic communications, and implementing organizational development plans. Motivated strategist with history of success ensuring outstanding stakeholder satisfaction. Facilitated communications initiatives for a large scope of stakeholders ranging in size from 2,000-16,000 and consisting of U.S., Coalition and partner-nation members overseas. Leverage excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills to promote collaboration and advance organizational objectives. Previous experience (not listed below) spans high school education and adjunct university instruction (2019-22), and defense analysis as a Senior Military Analyst with Northrop Grumman (2022).✪ STRENGTHSStrategic Communications ▪ Organizational Development ▪ Customer Engagement ▪ Consumer Behavior & PR ▪ Strategic Planning & Execution ▪ Relationship Management ▪ Operational Efficiencies ▪ Business Development & Consulting ▪ Cross-Team Collaboration ▪ Market Research & Analysis ▪ Effective Stakeholder Relationships ▪ Training & Support ▪ Strategy & Content Development ▪ Human Resources Management ▪ Effective Communication

Country

United States

City

Lexington

Industry

Higher Education

Skill

Oral and Written Communication, Public Relations, Leadership, Strategic Communications, Media Relations, Critical Thinking, Team Building, Operational / Strategic Planning, Community Relations Management, Project Management, Operations and Program Management

Experience

Chief Operating Officer

The VMI Alumni Association

2025-12 - Present · 10 mos

Lexington, VA

Major Gifts Officer

VMI Alumni Agencies

2024-12 - 2025-11 · 1 yr

Director of Alumni Outreach

The VMI Alumni Association

2022-12 - 2024-11 · 2 yrs

Lexington, VA

Public Affairs Manager

CoreCivic

2019-5 - 2019-11 · 7 mos

Nashville, Tennessee

Implements strategic social and promotional media, and public affairs initiatives in direct support of corporate leadership. Manages the social media properties and activities for the company, and assists leadership in corporate communications with the development and implementation of related strategies. Coordinates internal/external research to support public affairs and partnership development initiatives at the local, regional, and national level.

Communication Consultant

The Joint Staff

2014-8 - 2018-9 · 4 yrs 2 mos

Suffolk, VA

Consultant for executives and staffs of globally focused, multi-discipline military commands charged with providing recommendations for strategic and operational-level cross-functional and cross-domain strategy and process improvement.

Director Of Communications

5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

2011-5 - 2014-7 · 3 yrs 3 mos

Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Principal advisor to the commander, staff, and approximately 2,500 employees on all matters pertaining to public affairs plans, guidance, strategies and operations.

Director Of Communications

CJSOTF-A (Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan)

2010-7 - 2011-4 · 10 mos

Bagram, Afghanistan

Communications advisor to the commander of a 16,000-member U.S., Coalition, and Partner-Nation organization with countrywide responsibility and operating in 91 locations throughout Afghanistan.

Director Of Communications

160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)

2008-5 - 2010-7 · 2 yrs 3 mos

Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Advisor to the commander of the Army’s only Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Responsible for coordination with higher commands to include the U.S. Special Operations Command and the Department of the Army public affairs offices on issues of community and media relations.