Staff Sgt. Michael Sword is the public affairs NCO in charge for the 11th Airborne Division, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Previously, he was a master instructor, course developer and team leader at the Defense Information School, Fort Meade, Maryland. In his 14 years as a public affairs professional, he has supported NATO and partner-nation training exercises throughout Europe and the Indo-Pacific. He deployed three times to Afghanistan.