Atlanta-based broadcast journalist Gail McCabe was inducted into the United States Army Public Affairs Hall of Fame June 12, according to Brigadier General Malcolm Frost, special assistant to the Secretary of the Army for Public Affairs.  At the end of June, she was also awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service.  This is the highest level career medaled award given by the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

McCabe, a civilian senior correspondent for the U.S. Department of Defense and former Atlanta Bureau Chief for Defense Media Activity, has served the armed forces since 1985, covering the people and programs of the Army, particularly in the Middle East.  Throughout her stellar career, she has been honored with 26 Army broadcast awards and six from the Department of Defense, plus several broadcast journalism recognitions.   She has been twice awarded the Defense of Freedom Award, the military’s civilian equivalent of the Purple Heart. 

The U.S. Army Public Affairs Hall of Fame was established in 2000 to provide a prestigious and visible means of recognizing and honoring soldier and civilian Public Affairs professionals who make lasting, significant contributions to the profession, the history and the traditions of Army Public Affairs. Sgt. Maj. Jose A. Velazquez, Jr., currently the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command public affairs sergeant major and incoming Department of the Army public affair sergeant major said “I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this year’s honor than Gail, who has put herself at risk numerous times to inform our audiences about Army initiatives and focus attention on the men and women who serve our country.” 

McCabe’s experiences overseas rival that of many enlisted men and women.  “Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of visiting over 60 countries,” she said.  “I was one of the first reporters on the ground after Hurricane Katrina and the first Department of Defense reporter in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake.  I’ve flown in Blackhawk helicopters, traveled in combat convoys and worked in some very primitive conditions.  At the same time, I’ve interviewed generals, Secretaries of the Army, ambassadors and countless men and women in the field.  I was shot once, narrowly escaped a suicide bombing and politely – I hope – declined two marriage proposals from villagers in Africa and Afghanistan.  And, while I am deeply honored by this professional recognition, I am even more honored by the numerous opportunities I’ve been given throughout the past 30 years to tell the stories of men and women who serve our country both here and across the globe.” 

A native of Phoenix, Az., McCabe got her first taste of reporting while working for her high school newspaper.  She began working with Army Public Affairs while living in Germany, and relocated to Atlanta in 1997 to participate in a CNN training program.  She is married to Christopher Stallard, who also travels internationally through his work for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health.

“Looking back, I never could have imagined a more exciting and rewarding career, but looking forward, I am ready to move in a new direction,” said McCabe.  “At the end of June I retired from the Army, and plan to continue to work in either broadcast journalism or corporate communications.  Being named to the Hall of Fame and receiving the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service is a very humbling and gratifying way for me to close out my decades in Army Public Affairs.” 

Since its creation, the U.S. Army Public Affairs Hall of Fame has inducted over 50 individuals, citing them for their exemplary efforts in peacetime and in war, including service during combat operations in World War I, World War II, Vietnam, Korea, the Cold War and Somalia.  The program is managed by the U.S. Army Public Affairs Center at Fort Meade, Md.  Honorees are selected by a board panel, and officially inducted by the Chief of Public Affairs.