Ft Meade — The last piece of structural steel was bolted into place as the new DMA building was ‘topped off’ by the construction crew on March 2, 2010. DMA is still on track to receive the new building in the spring of 2011. For video of the event, follow this link to the Pentagon Channel. Video


Melvin Russell has been appointed as Acting Director of the Defense Media Activity following the resignation of David Jackson. Russell is a long-time civil servant with extensive experience as the director of American Forces Radio and Television Service and other organizations involved in the production and distribution of command information and entertainment programming. See Appointment Letter

Melvin Russell Defense Media Activity Breaks Ground at Fort Meade. With shovels in hand under a sunlit sky, federal, state and county officials, along with business and military personnel, broke ground on the Defense Media Activity’s new headquarters and production building at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, April 8, 2009. The event marked “an important milestone” in the federal agency’s history, DMA Director David Jackson said. Story | Video

Melvin Russell New DMA Building Construction Contract Awarded. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, awarded a $56,195,000 contract on March 13, 2009 to Hensel Phelps Construction Company of Chantilly, Virginia, to construct a headquarters and media production center for the Defense Media Activity at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. 
Read the Corps of Engineers' News Release

Melvin Russell David S. Jackson appointed as Director, Defense Media Activity. On March 12, 2009, Mr. Robert Hastings, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, announced the appointment of David S. Jackson as the first Director of Defense Media Activity. Mr. Jackson joins the Department of Defense from the Department of State, where he served as a senior advisor for communications. Previously, he was Director of the Voice of America, one of the world's largest and most influential news and information broadcasting organizations. Prior to that, he served as an advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) and as the creator and Editor of DefendAmerica.mil. Before joining the government, Mr. Jackson spent 23 years with Time Magazine as a senior correspondent, Bureau Chief, and correspondent in the U.S., Asia, and the Middle East. Mr. Hastings described Mr. Jackson as “an experienced and proven leader and communicator.”

DLA Human Resources Center. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is now the personnel servicing provider for AFIS federal civilian employees, effective March 30. On October 1, DLA will service all employees who move to DMA from AFIS and the Military Services.

Melvin Russell DLA maintains an extensive website for serviced personnel at http://www.hr.dla.mil/resources/. In addition, DLA, Human Resources Center-DoD has a toll free customer service line (1-877-692-0276) and e-mail address (dhrc-ddma@hr.dla.mil). The toll free number will be answered during normal business hours (0800-1630 EST) for customer service issues of interest to serviced federal civilian employees, including benefits and job announcement inquiries.

Melvin Russell Actions that typically require supervisory approval or DMA Personnel Office coordination, such as changes in position descriptions, recruitment actions, classification or staffing advisory are still required to be staffed through the appropriate management channels and the DMA Personnel Office.

Melvin Russell The DMA point of contact is Ms. Crystal Edwards, 301-222-6036.

Melvin Russell New Defense Media Activity Unveils Its Logo. A logo that symbolizes a new organization’s mission of integrating the Defense Department’s worldwide media activity efforts made its debut today. The Defense Media Activity, established January 1, consolidates the media activities of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and DoD’s American Forces Information Service. The organization’s new logo, designed by Nathan Quinn of the Naval Media Center, was chosen from among 64 entries submitted in a DMA-wide logo design contest. Mr. Quinn stated, “I wanted to create a logo that was modern and would represent the Defense Media Activity and its mission: telling the military story. The shield stands for defense, the circle and globe—symbolic of a camera lens, stand for media, and the color purple is representative of a joint military activity. I am extremely honored that my logo was selected to represent the DMA.” More than 2,000 military, DoD civilian and contract employees worldwide will comprise the new Defense Media Activity. The headquarters will be located in a 186,000 square-foot facility to be built on the grounds of Fort Meade, Maryland, and is set to open in September 2011.

Melvin Russell Deputy Secretary England Approves DMA Charter. On December 18, 2007, the Deputy Secretary of Defense approved Department of Defense Directive 5105.74, Defense Media Activity, that establishes the missions, functions and authorities of the DMA. The document is effective January 1, 2008. DoD Directive 5105.74

Melvin Russell Deputy Secretary England Directs Establishment of DMA. On September 24, 2007, the Deputy Secretary of Defense signed a memorandum directing that the Military Service media activities and the American Forces Information Service (AFIS) be consolidated into the Defense Media Activity (DMA). Deputy Secretary of Defense Memo

Melvin Russell Design of New DMA Building Underway. The Corps of Engineers has entered into an architectural and engineering contract to design the new DMA headquarters and operations facility at Ft. Meade, Md. The contract has been awarded to a joint venture between the architectural firm of Helmuth, Obata and Kassabaum, Inc. (HOK) and the engineering firm of Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern, Inc. (HSSM). Both are internationally respected companies in their field, with an impressive portfolio of successful projects, both within and outside the United States. Under the terms of the contract, the HOK/HSSM joint venture will work directly with representatives of the organizations being relocated to Ft. Meade, MD to produce a completed design by September, 2008, that will be used at that time to solicit bids to construct the facility.

Melvin Russell Defense Logistics Agency to Provide DMA Civilian Personnel Services. Arrangements are currently underway to have personnel services for DMA’s civil service employees provided by the Defense Logistics Agency’s (DLA) Human Resources Center. Under current plans, servicing for American Forces Information Service employees will transition to DLA in February, 2008 and services for personnel transferring from the Military Departments will transition during the first quarter of FY 2009. On October 4, 2007, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs (Internal Communications) signed a memorandum requesting formal approval of these plans from the Director, Civilian Personnel Management Service.

Melvin Russell Washington-Baltimore Area Pay Rates. Civilian personnel who will be realigned from outside the Washington-Baltimore area to the new DMA facility at Ft. Meade, MD should be aware that the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) and General Schedule (GS) pay rates for this area include an 18.59% locality supplement. NSPS Pay Rates | GS Pay Rates

Melvin Russell BRAC Transfers Get In-State Tuition Break. In collaboration with the Department of Defense, the Board of Regents for the University of Maryland has announced that civilian employees, contractors, and their family members who move into the state as a result of the 2005 Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) decisions will be immediately eligible for in-state tuition rates at University of Maryland schools. In-state rates are normally only granted after one year of residency. 

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