Rudy Burwell, a retired Army colonel who was chief of media operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom, has joined Hellerman Baretz Communications in D.C. as an executive VP focused on crisis communications.
Burwell rose through the Army PA ranks as a media relations officer at the Pentagon. He was media chief for a year for the Multi-National Corps force during the so-called surge from 2007-08 and handled crises from the alleged Blackwater contractor shootings of Iraqi civilians to the British exit from Basra. He also managed the embedded journalist program and was former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ personal media escort during a visit.
“His courage and successful leadership during the most severe and consequential communications crises have given him wisdom that few others possess,” said John Hellerman.
Burwell left the military in August after a three-year stint as director of Army Reserve communications, overseeing a staff of 50.