RAYMOND HOY
2012 U.S. Air Force Academy Graduation
Presidential keynote speaker
I was the leader of a 22-person communications team for the 2012 U.S. Air Force Academy graduation. President Barack Obama was the keynote speaker. The event took four months of planning and included logistics, media relations considerations, Secret Service requirements, coordinating a Thunderbird performance, and working hand-in-hand with the White House Communications Team. I managed more than 100 members of the local, regional and national media, including the White House Press Pool. I had to make changes on the fly due to presidential security concerns, and had to figure out where to house the media tent and how to get them a dedicated wireless internet access in the middle of the football stadium.
To read the president's remarks, click here.
National Geographic's Inside Combat Rescue
National Geographic's highest rated new show ever covers Air Force combat mission
During my deployment, I forward deployed to Bagram Air Base to assist National Geographic with their second season of Inside Combat Rescue, their show about the brave pararescue airmen who put their lives on the line so others may live. I assisted them in all aspects of production for nearly a month.
Upon arrival, the production was taking turn for the worst. The battle tempo was much lower than it had been when they produced the first season. It was up to me to find them a new story. I got them in contact with the Reapers, a team of security forces airmen who went outside the wire to build relationships in the local towns, while also keeping an eye out for high value targets.
To view more information about Inside Combat Rescue, go to their page here.
SportsNation comes to the Air Force Academy
ESPN's premier show for younger sports fan aired a pre-game show on campus
In 2012, ESPN's SportsNation came to the Air Force Academy. I led the communications efforts for the production team. The event included stage placement, a flyover, a parachute demonstration, interviews with the Academy's leadership live on camera, and hundreds of cadets.
For more video of the event, click here.
Above All: Space
One segment of the Air Force's national ad campaign
In a two week period, I was the lone communications specialist involved in a massive television and magazine ad production. The production included a crew of 30 members. I had to secure the crew's access to the base and the secured facilities in which they were going to shoot. I also had to find 80 Air Force extras to fill the seats inside the launch control room. This was made more difficult by the fact that they were required to wear our brand new uniform, which had only just come out. There were barely more than 80 people with those uniforms in their possession.
I also had to secure on-camera talent. I had to select the "cream of the crop" to have a speaking role in the commercial. It was one of the hardest, and most rewarding, two weeks of my career.