Charlie Poag is the Communications Manager at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. In his position he works with the communications team to promote the IVMF and OVMA to internal and external audiences. Raised in Asheville, NC, Charlie enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2001 immediately after graduating from high school.

After graduating Marine Corps boot camp in late August of 2001, Charlie became a combat photographer and spent the bulk of his career in visual communications. He deployed to the Oruzgan province of Afghanistan in 2004 with the 22^nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC).

He first came to Syracuse University to attend the Military Visual Journalism program at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, graduating with his certificate in Military Motion Media in 2009. He finished his military career as a communications strategy and operations chief after more than 15 years on active duty.

Charlie returned to Syracuse University to earn his bachelor’s degree in public relations from S.I. Newhouse, graduating in 2022, and joined the IVMF later in the same year.