Episode 158, It seems like I know you, Guest Audricia McKinney (Driece)

Colonel Audricia “Driece” M. Harris Director, Functional Community Management Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs The daughter of veterans, Colonel Audricia "Driece" M. Harris, hails from Ashburn, Virginia, and is a distinguished military officer with a rich and diverse career. Her journey in the United States Army began in 2002 when she was commissioned as a second lieutenant, marking the commencement of her remarkable service to the nation. Currently, Colonel Harris holds the prestigious Director of Public Affairs Functional Community Management position for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. In this role, she is responsible for working across the department to institutionalize public affairs by cultivating a workforce that is innovative, adaptable, and fully prepared to support the public affairs requirements of the Department of Defense. Before her current assignment, Colonel Harris held esteemed positions such as the senior military advisor within the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, director of communication for Army Futures Command, senior communication advisor for the Secretary of the Army and a Pentagon spokesperson, where she served as the lead communication advisor for various critical areas, including, modernization, personnel, civil unrest, Africa Affairs, Cyber Security, Defense Intelligence, and Special Operations. Her exceptional public affairs prowess has been pivotal in ensuring the public remains informed about vital defense matters. Beyond her impressive military career, Colonel Harris is a lifelong learner. She pursued higher education, earning a master's degree in information resource management from Central Michigan University and a master's degree in public relations management from the University of Maryland University College. Her commitment to education demonstrates her dedication to personal growth and excellence. Colonel Harris's military assignments have taken her to diverse and challenging environments across the globe. From Seoul, Korea, where she served as the Director of Internal Information, to Fort Knox, Kentucky, where she directed marketing efforts for Army ROTC programs, and even to Sinai, Egypt, where she led press and VIP visits for a small peacekeeping organization, her career has been marked by adaptability and leadership in dynamic situations. Colonel Harris finds balance and joy in various hobbies outside her military service. She is an avid reader, a dedicated community volunteer, and a passionate traveler who appreciates the beauty and culture of different places across the globe. Her heart finds warmth in spending quality time with her friends and family and volunteering to provide public relations and communication expertise to non-profit organizations such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The ROCKS, Inc., and It Takes Two, Inc.