Joe Purka, ECPR Foundation Director

Joe Purka is Director of the Emerald Coast Public Relations Foundation. He retired from the Air Force after more than 28 years, primarily as a Public Affairs Officer. Subsequently, he served as Public Affairs Director for the national World War II Memorial in Washington D.C., Director of Campaign Communications for Rutgers University, and Vice President of Kirby-Smith Associates, a fundraising consulting firm.

Joe has received a number of awards from national professional organizations, including PRSA, IABC and CASE. He was inducted into the Southern Public Relations Hall of Fame in 2014. He and his wife, Dee, have lived in Niceville since 2003. They have two children and five grandchildren.