Jennifer Plozai serves as the Director of Coast Guard Communications for the U.S. Coast Guard and is a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES). In this role, she is leads enterprise-wide communications and public engagement strategies that advance the Service’s mission and strengthen public trust. Ms. Plozai oversees communications and engagement with Congress, the media, the public, the workforce and intergovernmental partners, while directing Legislative Affairs, Public Affairs, Partnerships and Engagement, History and Heritage, and the National Coast Guard Museum.
Ms. Plozai brings more than 25 years of leadership in strategic communications, public affairs and stakeholder engagement across the federal government. Prior to joining the Coast Guard, she served as Director of the Office of Communications for Justice Programs in the U.S. Department of Justice. In that role, she led communications with Congress, the media, the public and government and nongovernmental organizations while overseeing congressional and communications teams that advanced the agency’s legislative priorities and strategic initiatives.
Previously, Ms. Plozai served as Public and Media Affairs Chief for the U.S. National Science Foundation, where she provided strategic direction for the foundation’s external and internal communications and served as the agency’s senior spokesperson. She also served as Director of External Communications for the Transportation Security Administration, overseeing national and international media relations, strategic communications, digital engagement and customer experience initiatives. During her tenure, she spearheaded the creation of the award-winning AskTSA social care program, which provides real-time assistance to more than 1,000 travelers each day through social media.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Plozai served as Chief of Strategic Communications and Speechwriter for the Department of Defense Inspector General. She managed the agency’s strategic communications program, served as a principal spokesperson for the Inspector General, authored congressional testimony and participated on an assessment team in Islamabad, Pakistan, responsible for reviewing Coalition Support Funds provided to the Government of Pakistan. Prior to joining DoD IG, she worked for Air Force Pentagon Communications Agency.
Ms. Plozai began her federal service with the U.S. Coast Guard, where she served as a member of a small boat search and rescue crew in St. Petersburg, Florida, before supporting the National Boating Safety Campaign while stationed at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California.
In addition to her government service, Ms. Plozai is an Adjunct Professor at American University, where she teaches strategic communications in the School of Public Affairs.
Ms. Plozai’s leadership has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Department of Homeland Security Customer Service Award, the Partnership for Public Service Basics Award for Ingenuity and Results, and the 2026 Service to the Citizen Award for Customer Experience Trailblazer, and the Department of Defense Distinguished and Meritorious Civilian Service Medals. In 2016, she was selected by the White House as a federal change-maker and participated in a retreat at Camp David focused on addressing complex government challenges.
Ms. Plozai holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from University of Michigan-Dearborn and a master’s degree in Policy Management from Georgetown University. She is also a graduate of the Defense Information School, Partnership for Public Service Fellowship Program, DHS Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program, and Harvard Senior Executive Fellows Program.