Joe Buccino

Joe Buccino is the Communications Director for the House Republican Conference, serving Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI). A nationally recognized communications strategist, retired U.S. Army Colonel, and former Pentagon and military spokesperson, Buccino has spent nearly three decades managing high-stakes crisis communications in some of the world's most challenging environments. He is the author of the crisis comms book "When Every Word Counts: How to Earn Trust, Command Attention, and Communicate Clearly in Any Situation."

During his 28-year military career, Buccino served as the chief spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, overseeing strategic communications during military operations and international crises across the Middle East. He also held senior public affairs positions at the Pentagon and the XVIII Airborne Corps and served in Poland during the opening months of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Named Ragan Communications PR Professional of the Year, Buccino brings a rare combination of battlefield experience, crisis management expertise, and political communications leadership. His work has placed him at the intersection of national security, public policy, and the 24-hour news cycle, where credibility, speed, and sound judgment can determine the outcome of a crisis.