Federal Strategic Communications Consulting

Client and Services Portfolio

“Throughout my 25-year career—spent mostly in the Washington, DC strategic communications industry—I’ve operated on the leading-edge of development initiatives, supporting the execution of major campaigns in the healthcare, technology, defense, and cultural development markets. My efforts focus on meeting client needs and have earned a reputation for award-winning service delivery that effectively supports globally-impactful programs and initiatives.”

Derran Eaddy, M.A.

U.S. Dept. of Defense

Coordinating Global Communications for 18 Million Military Healthcare Beneficiaries

Communicating the U.S. Military Health System’s (MHS) global vision requires an acute understanding of the broad and complex technical resources needed to deliver medical services to warfighters. Derran Eaddy managed international communications initiatives for the agency, such as the development of the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) website and social media program. He managed strategic outreach plans, which directly supported the integration of Dept. of Defense (DOD) and Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) electronic health records. With more than 18 million beneficiaries, the DOD MHS and VA represent two of the world's largest healthcare providers. The project won multiple professional awards for its innovative approach to strategic communications outreach.

U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs

Modernizing Healthcare Delivered to Veterans and Their Families

As one of the world’s largest integrated healthcare providers, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) delivers medical services to approximately 9 million beneficiaries. The Department is continuously challenged with modernizing its healthcare services, secure IT infrastructure, and 1,400 medical facilities. Derran Eaddy supported communications outreach efforts leading to multi-billion-dollar legislative appropriations and strengthened relationships with key organizational partners. He conceptualized and rendered budget briefing decks and other communications products for the VA Secretary and the Deputy Under Secretary for Health (DUSH), as well as managed the development of digital media content from video productions to social media engagements. The project received a 2017 Platinum MarCom Award for efforts coordinated at the White House-level.

N.M. Dept. of Higher Education

Serving as a Statewide New Mexico Commissioner on Higher Education

New Mexico is challenged with serving higher education students across vast rural areas and several geographically separated urban centers. Derran Eaddy was appointed by the New Mexico Governor to serve on the statewide Commission on Higher Education (CHE), where he represented the needs of students and provided direct oversight for all aspects of the state’s higher education governance system. The Commission focused on legislative funding proposals, academic programs, staffing, and facility construction needs for more than 25 universities and colleges. The 16-member board innovated distance learning and articulation agreements across the state, which improved access to college courses for many traditionally underserved student populations.

U.S. Dept. of Defense

Pioneering Department of Defense Social Media

Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, opened global public discussions online and changed the way Federal agencies needed to communicate with constituents. While serving as a consultant to the Dept. of Defense in 2008, Derran Eaddy successfully navigated protocols to launch and operate the Military Health System’s first social media program. Through those Web2.0 efforts, the Department modernized its online communications platforms and processes to become more open, transparent, and responsive to the 10 million service members, spouses, and dependents under the system’s care.

U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs

Cultivating Workforce Development for 400,000 VA Staff Members

As the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) worked to reduce its backlog of benefits claims and improve the quality of healthcare it delivered, Derran Eaddy consulted on the mission-critical MyCareer@VA initiative designed to help VA's 400,000 employees continuously improve services offered to Veterans. He worked with VA officials and contracting partners to launch the web-based MyCareer@VA program, which provided online career development resources. The program was cited in Congressional testimony as one of the Department’s top transformation initiatives and earned the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Innovations in Government Award.

Guilford County Schools

Advancing K-12 Public Schools Media/Press Relations

North Carolina’s Guilford County Schools (GCS) served 65,000 diverse student on more than 100 campuses. The district was challenged with delivering world-class education to students from affluent and disadvantaged backgrounds, and those who lived in rural and urban areas of the county. Derran Eaddy was responsible for leading daily press/media relations activities coordinated with TV channels, radio stations, and newspapers/web outlets. He helped GCS gain national recognition for producing No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools, lowering district dropout rates, and increasing the number of students enrolled in Advanced Placement programs. He managed crisis communications during major events, such as the September 11 terror attacks. His communications products regularly won awards from the National School Public Relations Association.