John Kirby

After graduating from the University of South Florida in 1985, he was commissioned through Officer Candidate School and went on to build a long career in the U.S. Navy. He later earned a master’s degree in international relations and national security studies from Troy University and became known both as a naval officer and as a public affairs leader.

Over the years, he served in a range of military and communications roles, including as the Pentagon press secretary and as spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State. He retired from the Navy as a rear admiral, but remained a familiar public figure through senior national security communications work.

His public profile grew because of his calm, plainspoken style during major international events. That mix of operational experience and media-facing work has made him one of the more recognizable voices in recent U.S. national security communications.