KINGS POINT, N.Y. June 28, 2019 - Mr. J. Todd Breasseale, a decorated Army Veteran and Principal Director of the Department of Defense’s Office of Information Operations Policy, was the guest speaker for Pride Month at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) on June 2, 2023. He spoke to the Regiment of Midshipmen during a lunchtime presentation in Delano Hall. During his speech, he discussed his experiences as a gay soldier serving under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and the importance of allyship in supporting LGBTQ+ individuals in the military and beyond. The audience listened as he told them what it was like to serve his nation while having to hide his identity as a gay man.

He discussed an anonymous article that he wrote for The Daily Beast while deployed, in 2010. Mr. Breasseale said “I deeply believe that America is fighting the right fight in Afghanistan. I believe in this battle against our enemies. And, I believe that the U.S. Army is the single greatest force for good the world has ever known. But I want to tell the guys I eat lunch with every day about my partner. After all, these are the guys I risk my life with—the guys who think they know me. I can tell you every detail of how each of them met their wives; how one of them still feels guilty about an affair he never had, but thought about; how one of them cried so hard the day his son was born. Yet they don’t know much about my life, except the most superficial details.” He added, “the military is a covenant between a soldier and his commander. And I need our commander-in-chief to keep his promise to my partner and me. I will risk my life, and in return, I ask to be treated simply like anyone else in the service—nothing more and nothing less.”

Admiral Joanna M. Nunan, Superintendent, said, “We were honored to have Todd Breasseale share his insights with us during Pride Month at USMMA. It is important for midshipmen to connect contemporary issues to real people. Our graduates will take an oath to protect the rights of all Americans – just as Mr. Breasseale did – and it’s important they understand the citizens they serve.”

As Principal Director, Office of Information Operations Policy, Mr. Breasseale is responsible for oversight of policy, strategy, planning, resource management, operational considerations, personnel, and technology development across all the elements of information operations of the Department; overall integration and supervision of the deterrence of, conduct of, and defense against information operations; and promulgation of policies to ensure adequate coordination and deconfliction with the Department of State, the intelligence community, and other relevant agencies and departments of the Federal Government.

Mr. Breasseale served most recently as the Deputy Assistant to the Secretary Defense for Public Affairs (Media), with additional duty as the Pentagon Press Secretary. In this role, Mr. Breasseale was responsible for implementing and explaining the policies, programs, and goals of the administration and the department to the media and the external public; liaised with national and international news media; led and directed the development of public affairs and of products developed for distribution to the media and the public; and, supervised the department’s press operations, social media, and elements of the Defense Media Activity.

Prior to re-joining the Department of Defense, Mr. Breasseale directed public affairs communications at Microsoft. Prior to Microsoft, he led Facebook’s communications around the work of their Integrity team and community partnerships.

Before joining private industry, Mr. Breasseale was the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Public Affairs, overseeing the department’s public outreach, media relations, and strategic and incident communication efforts; and, served as the principal communications advisor to (then) Secretary Jeh C. Johnson.

Mr. Breasseale had a distinguished career in the U.S. Army and retired in 2014 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. From 1992 to 2014 he served in multiple locations throughout the U.S., Afghanistan, Iraq, Germany, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Egypt, Haiti, and Venezuela. For his meritorious service in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr. Breasseale was awarded two Bronze Star medals. He is also a recipient of the Legion of Merit medal.

The repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was signed by President Obama in December 2010 and took effect in September 2011.