Author of The Secret Sauce for Organizational Success: Communications and Leadership on the Same Page
Rear Adm. Tom Jurkowsky is a public relations professional with nearly 50 years of experience in the defense, corporate and government sectors. He served on active duty for 31 years, entering the service in 1969 as an enlisted man and retired in 2000 as a rear admiral. During this career, Tom served in numerous theaters around the world. This included several Pentagon postings in Washington, DC His final position in the Navy was as its Chief of Information—the Navy’s chief spokesman and head of its entire public affairs effort. In this role he also served as an advisor to the Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations and other senior leaders in the Department of the Navy.
Following his Navy career, Tom served as the vice president for media relations for the Lockheed Martin Corporation, the world’s largest defense contractor. He then joined the U.S. Treasury Department where he served as the U.S. Mint’s chief of corporate communications. Tom has also served as an adjunct instructor in communications at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Maryland. He serves on the board of directors of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), an advocacy organization that supports a strong national defense.
Tom’s holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Boston University and a graduate degree from American University in Public Relations.
The Secret Sauce for Organizational Success: Communications and Leadership on the Same Page
Admiral Jurkowsky's distinguished military career culminated in service as the Navy's Chief of Information, and he worked on a variety of events, from the Tailhook Scandal to various incidents at the Naval Academy. His book highlights the importance of honesty, clear messaging, and a positive relationship with the press in order to effectively manage strategic communications. The goal of The Secret Sauce for Organizational Success is for both communication practitioners and their leaders to learn from the author’s experiences and motivate both, in tandem, so that they always do the “right thing.” [Tom Jurkowsky / 2020 / 162 pages / ISBN: 9781585663019 / AU Press Code: B-162]
Book Review by Dr. Ellen A. Ahlness