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// Officer Designator · O-1 to O-10 · NATO OF-1 to OF-9

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER (1710)

The Restricted Line community that tells the U.S. Navy's story to the public, the press, and the fleet.

Public Affairs Officer device — gold quill device
Insignia
Designator
1710
Abbreviation
PAO
Community
Restricted Line
Paygrade Range
O-1 to O-10
NATO Range
OF-1 to OF-9
Category
Officer Designator

OVERVIEW

The 1710 Public Affairs Officer (PAO) designator identifies Restricted Line officers in the U.S. Navy who specialize in media relations, strategic communication, internal command information, and community outreach. Navy PAOs serve as the spokespersons for ships, squadrons, installations, type commanders, fleet commanders, and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

PAOs are lateral-transfer or direct-commission officers who graduate from the Defense Information School (DINFOS) at Fort Meade, MD before reporting to their first PAO tour. They run press briefings, embed reporters with Navy units, manage social media, write speeches and command-information bulletins, and respond to inquiries from local, national, and international media.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Serve as command spokesperson for media inquiries and press briefings
  • Plan and execute community outreach events such as Navy Week and Fleet Week
  • Develop and execute strategic-communication plans supporting commander's intent
  • Lead internal command-information programs and produce command publications

HISTORY

The U.S. Navy formalized the Public Affairs Officer community in the early 1980s, consolidating what had previously been a collateral duty performed by line officers. The community grew significantly during and after Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, when 24-hour cable news coverage of military operations made dedicated communication professionals essential.

Today the Navy PAO community fields more than 200 active-duty officers and is one of the most operationally-deployed Restricted Line communities, with PAOs embedded on every major fleet and combatant-command staff worldwide.

COMMISSIONING SOURCES

  • Lateral transfer from URL
  • OCS Direct Commission

TRAINING PIPELINE

  1. 1. DINFOS Public Affairs Officer Qualification Course (PAQC)~12 weeks
    Fort Meade, MD
    Joint public-affairs school covering media relations, strategic communication, and command information.
  2. 2. Joint Combat Camera / Media Embed Course2–4 weeks
    Fort Meade, MD
    Specialized media-embed and combat-camera training.
  3. 3. Senior PAO Course~3 weeks
    Fort Meade, MD
    Senior-level course preparing O-4/O-5 PAOs for major-staff and command positions.

TYPICAL CAREER PATH

  1. O-1/O-2
    DINFOS + first PAO tour
    PAQC at DINFOS followed by first tour at an installation, ship, or numbered staff.
  2. O-3
    Mid-grade PAO Tour
    PAO at a fleet or major-staff billet.
  3. O-4
    Department Head
    Department head at a Navy region, NAVCO, or major fleet PAO.
  4. O-5
    Senior PAO
    Senior PAO at a fleet, type command, or OPNAV.
  5. O-6
    Navy Chief of Information staff
    Senior leadership in CHINFO or major fleet/combatant-command PAO leadership.

RELATED DESIGNATORS

RELATED BASES

How to address
Same as the underlying officer rank — e.g., "Lieutenant Smith." Community addressed as "PAO" in writing.
Prerequisites
  • Lateral transfer from URL or direct commission via OCS into the 1710 community
  • Successful completion of the Defense Information School (DINFOS) Public Affairs Officer Qualification Course
  • Demonstrated writing, speaking, and media-relations competency
  • Maintain Secret clearance
Common assignments
  • Public Affairs Officer aboard a numbered fleet or carrier strike group staff
  • Installation PAO at a Navy region or naval base
  • Outreach Officer at the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) — runs the Navy Week program
  • OPNAV or Pentagon press desk officer

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The 1710 designator identifies a Restricted Line officer in the Navy Public Affairs community — a strategic-communications, media-relations, and community-outreach professional.

Navy Week and similar Navy outreach events are coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO), staffed primarily by 1710 Public Affairs Officers.

All Navy PAOs attend the joint Defense Information School (DINFOS) at Fort Meade, MD for the Public Affairs Officer Qualification Course (PAQC).

SOURCES

Last updated 2026-05-02
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