Coast Guard public affairs director to address NPC's American Legion Post, May 29

Rear Adm. Melissa Bert, Director of Governmental and Public Affairs for the U.S. Coast Guard, will be guest speaker at a luncheon meeting of the National Press Club's American Legion Post 20 at noon on Wednesday, May 29, in the McClendon Room.

The speaker portion of the meeting is open to all Club members.

Bert is responsible for engagement with the media, Congress and inter-governmental entities. She will discuss Coast Guard public affairs, priorities and challenges.

She is a graduate of the Coast Guard Academy and The George Washington University School of Law. Prior to her current assignment she was Deputy Director of Operations for the U.S. Northern Command, which is responsible for homeland defense. Other previous assignments included chief of staff for the Coast Guard's Seventh District and chief of the Coast Guard's Maritime and International Law Office.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Post 20 and the American Legion. The post was founded at the suggestion of famed World War I Gen. John Pershing and received its charter on Nov. 19, 1919. After the war Pershing was serving in Washington and was an associate member of the Club. He was instrumental in founding the American Legion in early 1919.