Joe Plenzler is a combat decorated Marine Corps veteran. He served 20 years on active duty as an infantry officer and as a public affairs officer. During his time in uniform, Joe planned and executed the largest media embed program in Marine Corps history during the invasion of Iraq, served as the senior U.S. military spokesperson in Indonesia during the international disaster relief mission in the wake of the Boxing Day tsunami, and served in the Pentagon as the spokesman, press secretary, and staff group director for the 34th, 35th, and 36th Commandants of the Marine Corps. Retiring in 2015, he has served as an EVP of marketing and membership, a national director of media relations, and a director of communication for large nationally recognized veteran service organizations. Today, he is a co-founder of Cassandra Helenus Partners – a leadership coaching and human communication firm.
Joe is a member of the board of the We the Veterans Society for American Democracy.
The inaugural Eradicate Hate Summit was a truly impressive gathering of leaders dedicated to finding lasting and effective solutions to violent extremism. I was particularly moved by the prominence given to survivors and family members of victims of hate and violence throughout the event. Their stories and those of so many others must be at the center of what we do and why we do it.
