Tom Squitieri

Pentagon Reporter

Tom Squitieri is the is the Talk Media News Pentagon Correspondent, reporting on conflicts, the military, defense, and the diplomatic and political swirl that influence those critical areas. His more than 30 years experience in daily journalism – from an underground newspaper in western Pennsylvania to USA TODAY – has produced deep and wide reporting in coverage of dozens of international conflicts, national politics and government, defense, crime, breaking news, Congress and the White House, and political scandals and intrigue. He writes in ways to engage, stimulate and connect with all kinds of people. Tom has an uncanny knack for rendering complex ideas into simple compelling text; those skills have resulted in three Overseas Press Club Awards and three White House Correspondents’ Association awards as a journalist and, in the public relations arena, a winner of a 2007 Communicator Award of Distinction and finalist for a 2015 Gold SABRE North America award. He is a member and former officer of the Overseas Press Club and the National Press Club and has been on all seven continents. In academics, Tom is an adjunct professor at American University, teaching courses on “The Media and Foreign Policy” and “Writing for Communication.” Tom also created classes and taught speech writing and presentation as part of a communication skills program developed for the group Ladies America, a national organization that connects, educates and mentors professional women. In addition for three years he also spoke on the role of the media in political campaigns at the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University, with the class on Political Communications Strategy. Previously, Tom was invited to create and then teach a unique college course at Washington and Jefferson College that combines journalism, public affairs, ethics, philosophy, current affairs and war zone survival skills into a practical application to broaden thinking and day-to-day success. That course guides students on how to ask questions that cannot be dodged, provide answers that are detailed and on-point, and unleash the ability to think on one’s feet and use all of one’s senses. It also teaches the merits of when to be silent and how to write creatively and clearly. A native of Pittsburgh, Tom is a graduate of Washington & Jefferson College and Burrell High School.