Cynthia Puryear serves as the Metropolitan Police Department’s Director for the Office of Communications. She leads the department’s strategic internal and external communications in support of MPD’s mission and goals, including brand strategy, community outreach, digital marketing and advertising, and volunteer programs. She oversees a team of sworn members and professional staff, supporting over 4,000 members for the sixth largest police department in the United States.
Most recently, Puryear was director of internal communications and engagement at Performance Food Group where she served as a senior consultant and communications lead supporting 35,000 employees globally across 150 locations. Prior to that, she served as head of communications for several C-suite executives at Capital One Financial overseeing communications, engagement, community outreach and events for their lines of business.
Previously, she was a senior strategist with Mitchell Communications PR Agency serving as a communications consultant for several Fortune 500 companies delivering a wide range of services including public affairs, earned media, event planning, communications, community outreach and engagement. Prior to that, she was an executive leader at the United States Postal Service leading the national community relations program to engage more than 750,000 employees in corporate philanthropy and community volunteerism, as well as media relations and events for the U.S. Postal Service Stamp Program.
Puryear is currently serving on the board for the American Red Cross, Virginia Region and is a living donor executive committee member for the National Kidney Foundation. She served a six-year appointment by the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services as a member of the Advisory Committee on Organ Transplantation (ACOT). She’s a member of Public Relations Society of America, National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), National Organization of Black Law Enforcement (NOBLE) and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Puryear received a master’s degree in human resource development from Webster University, a bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs: Radio/TV/Film, from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and completed post-graduate studies at the University of Maryland University College to complete the U.S. Postal Service Advanced Leadership Program.