Pentagon Reforming Its Press Corps; Calls On Americans To Design New Logo

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The U.S. Department of Defense is calling on Americans everywhere to submit drawings as it searches for the new logo for its new press agency.

Starting in 2008, the Pentagon will merge the American Forces Information Service with each of the individual military branches' media units, to form the Defense Media Activity.

The Pentagon has developed a facility in Fort Meade, Maryland, which will serve as a home base for more than 650 military, DoD civilian and contract employees.

The new headquarters should be up and running by 2011. In the meantime, the Defense Department is looking for someone to help them design the Media Activity's new logo.

"We realize that part of the energy that comes with creating a new organization is the brand development, and the first tactic is a logo that will communicate a certain look and feel for the DMA," Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Public Liaison and Internal Communications Allison Barber said. "I'm excited to see what comes in from the participants who decide to compete in the logo contest, because I think we have such talented individuals."

"The goal of the logo, just like in corporate America, is to communicate specific traits about your organization. Hopefully it will communicate some type of world-class feel to it, because we're building the state-of-the-art world-class communication organization," Barber added.

The contest will run until November 16, and the Defense Department will post submissions for the public to vote on.