Local & State Headlines

Herald publisher picked for Pentagon program

• Albany Herald Publisher Michael J. Gebhart is one of 45 people chosen nationwide for a Pentagon outreach program.

Holly McCarthy

ALBANY — Albany Herald Publisher Michael J. Gebhart has been selected to participate next month in the 76th Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC), a week-long Pentagon outreach program.

JCOC participants attend military briefings and then depart from Washington, D.C., for visits that will span at least four countries in the area of responsibility of U.S. European Command, which is hosting the Sept. 19-26 conference. In addition to meeting with senior leadership at installations visited, the conference participants will interact and participate in day-to-day military activities, according to the Defense Department.

The itinerary for the 76th conference will not be made public in advance because of security concerns, Department of Defense officials said. The 75th conference, which was conducted this past spring, included visits to Cuba, Brazil, Colombia and Honduras.

“This is truly an unbelievable honor,” Gebhart said.

Gebhart was nominated by Col. Christian N. Haliday, commanding officer, Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany.

“Given his position leading The Albany Herald we thought he’d be a great candidate to familiarize himself with the branches of the U.S. military,” Haliday said. “Hopefully, he’ll be able to put it to good use as a leader in the community.”

Gebhart said when he looked into the program, he realized it was “the trip of a lifetime.”

“To have been nominated for this by the outstanding Marines at MCLB humbles me,” Gebhart said. “I revere the men and women of the Marine Corps. I can’t think of a better way to pay them tribute than to represent them on this mission.”

Candidates from across the country are nominated by major offices, military departments within the Department of Defense, and JCOC alumni. According to MCLB-Albany Deputy Public Affairs Officer Colie Young, more than 200 people are nominated for each conference, but only around 50 make the cut.

“It’s not easy to get in,” Young said. “I guess the committee was quite impressed with his resume. We were quite proud this year to have Mike selected.”

Begun in 1948, JCOC is the Pentagon’s oldest outreach program.