Joe Plenzler
Marine Corps Veteran, Board Member, We the Veterans
2022
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.
It is a tragic reality that hateful ideology has found fertile ground online and offline, with consequences affecting not only Americans but people around the world. We cannot stand idle in the face of bias, bigotry, and extremism. Together, at the Eradicate Hate Summit and beyond, the collective will of individuals and organizations is needed to galvanize all people of good will to protect and defend our communities.
