Prefix/Rank (MG, RADM, Maj Gen, Dr., Mr., Ms., etc.)
Mr.
Full Name
Mr. Kenneth Fidler
Job Title
Chief, Communications Plans and Operations, OASD(HA)
Speaker Bio
Ken Fidler is the Chief of Communications Operations and Plans for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs and the Military Health System.
Mr. Fidler brings more than 40 years of experience in military public affairs and strategic communications, with expertise in managing concurrent operations across multiple components – strategy, plans, internal, media, news, visual information, social media, stakeholder engagement – while delivering omnichannel content daily.
In his current capacity, he oversees the integration, planning, coordination, implementation, and assessment of communication operations, while providing counsel, advice, and support to the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs, and leadership of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs and to Military Health System leaders. He held the same role within the Defense Health Agency from February 2018 through September 2024, working as the team lead and supervisor for seven communications planning and content development teams. During this period, the special projects earned three PRSA Silver Anvil awards and two Hermes creative awards.
From September 2013 to February 2018, Mr. Fidler served as the assistant deputy director at Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps Division of Public Affairs, later renamed Communications Directorate. He supported the Director and Deputy Director with strategic management of the office, with a focus on staff and program integration, cross-division coordination and collaboration, strategic planning and synchronization, and methods to improve effectiveness of operations. He served as the day-to-day orchestrator of a two-year reorganization effort to consolidate the Division of Public Affairs and Headquarters Marine Corps Combat Camera/Visual Information into one office.
In 2008, Mr. Fidler joined the Public Affairs Office at the newly created U.S. Africa Command at Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany. From 2009 to 2012, he was the Chief of Media Operations, during which he led Combatant Command media operations for Operation Odyssey Dawn, which established a no-fly zone over Libya in March 2011. In 2012, he became the Deputy Director of the Public Affairs Office, assisting the Director with advising the Combatant Commander, Deputy Commander for Operations, Deputy Commander for Civil-Military Activities, J-Directors, Theater Special Operations Command, and component command PAOs. He supervised three divisions and 14 officers and specialists overseeing public affairs support to U.S. military activities and operations in 54 African nations. He was co-architect of the USAFRICOM Journalist Visit Program in 2009 as part of the command’s strategic engagement strategy. In coordination with U.S. embassies, the command brought select journalists and academia “inside” U.S. Africa Command each quarter to dispel rumors and ensure a factual narrative about the command’s mission.
He served as an active duty U.S. Air Force Airman from October 1984 to December 2007. His assignments included South Carolina, Spain, Arizona, Indiana, Maryland, Illinois, Germany, and Japan. Duties ranged from newspaper editor, team lead, supervisor, Defense Information School instructor, media operations, command information, and air component and joint exercise planner. In August 1990, he deployed to support Operation Desert Shield, and subsequently Operation Desert Storm, with the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing in Doha, Qatar. In early 2001, he deployed in support of NATO-led Operation Joint Forge’s air enforcement over the Balkans. In October 2001, he directly supported C-17 humanitarian missions over northern Afghanistan at the start of Operation Enduring Freedom. From 2006 to 2007, he deployed to Afghanistan to the Combined Forces Command headquarters and transitioned in-theater command and control operations to NATO.
Mr. Fidler has earned more than 25 public affairs awards during his military career, including “Best of the Best" U.S. Air Force Public Affairs Professional. Team awards include best small wing public affairs office in U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) in 1988, best large wing public affairs office Air Force wide in 2006, and three Brig. Gen. Harry J. Dalton, Jr., Awards for Outstanding Air Force PA Program as a member of the Headquarters USAFE Public Affairs Office 1999-2005. Mr. Fidler holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and management and advanced certificates in human resources and project management.
Mr. Fidler brings more than 40 years of experience in military public affairs and strategic communications, with expertise in managing concurrent operations across multiple components – strategy, plans, internal, media, news, visual information, social media, stakeholder engagement – while delivering omnichannel content daily.
In his current capacity, he oversees the integration, planning, coordination, implementation, and assessment of communication operations, while providing counsel, advice, and support to the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs, and leadership of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs and to Military Health System leaders. He held the same role within the Defense Health Agency from February 2018 through September 2024, working as the team lead and supervisor for seven communications planning and content development teams. During this period, the special projects earned three PRSA Silver Anvil awards and two Hermes creative awards.
From September 2013 to February 2018, Mr. Fidler served as the assistant deputy director at Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps Division of Public Affairs, later renamed Communications Directorate. He supported the Director and Deputy Director with strategic management of the office, with a focus on staff and program integration, cross-division coordination and collaboration, strategic planning and synchronization, and methods to improve effectiveness of operations. He served as the day-to-day orchestrator of a two-year reorganization effort to consolidate the Division of Public Affairs and Headquarters Marine Corps Combat Camera/Visual Information into one office.
In 2008, Mr. Fidler joined the Public Affairs Office at the newly created U.S. Africa Command at Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany. From 2009 to 2012, he was the Chief of Media Operations, during which he led Combatant Command media operations for Operation Odyssey Dawn, which established a no-fly zone over Libya in March 2011. In 2012, he became the Deputy Director of the Public Affairs Office, assisting the Director with advising the Combatant Commander, Deputy Commander for Operations, Deputy Commander for Civil-Military Activities, J-Directors, Theater Special Operations Command, and component command PAOs. He supervised three divisions and 14 officers and specialists overseeing public affairs support to U.S. military activities and operations in 54 African nations. He was co-architect of the USAFRICOM Journalist Visit Program in 2009 as part of the command’s strategic engagement strategy. In coordination with U.S. embassies, the command brought select journalists and academia “inside” U.S. Africa Command each quarter to dispel rumors and ensure a factual narrative about the command’s mission.
He served as an active duty U.S. Air Force Airman from October 1984 to December 2007. His assignments included South Carolina, Spain, Arizona, Indiana, Maryland, Illinois, Germany, and Japan. Duties ranged from newspaper editor, team lead, supervisor, Defense Information School instructor, media operations, command information, and air component and joint exercise planner. In August 1990, he deployed to support Operation Desert Shield, and subsequently Operation Desert Storm, with the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing in Doha, Qatar. In early 2001, he deployed in support of NATO-led Operation Joint Forge’s air enforcement over the Balkans. In October 2001, he directly supported C-17 humanitarian missions over northern Afghanistan at the start of Operation Enduring Freedom. From 2006 to 2007, he deployed to Afghanistan to the Combined Forces Command headquarters and transitioned in-theater command and control operations to NATO.
Mr. Fidler has earned more than 25 public affairs awards during his military career, including “Best of the Best" U.S. Air Force Public Affairs Professional. Team awards include best small wing public affairs office in U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) in 1988, best large wing public affairs office Air Force wide in 2006, and three Brig. Gen. Harry J. Dalton, Jr., Awards for Outstanding Air Force PA Program as a member of the Headquarters USAFE Public Affairs Office 1999-2005. Mr. Fidler holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and management and advanced certificates in human resources and project management.
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