Creating Organizational Identities

During my time at the Institute of Heraldry, I designed and developed high-profile branding and organizational identities for the U.S. Armed Forces, Department of Defense, and other federal agencies. I provided creative leadership on national-level insignia, emblems, and visual branding, shaping the identity of military and government institutions. Each design is a result of careful research and regular communication with the requesting client.

Heraldry is a visual expression of ideas through symbols that has been used by militaries and governments around the world for hundreds of years. I’ve provided a brief description of the symbolism incorporated into each heraldic design below.

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USNS Mercy Hospital Ship

The dominant Red Cross on the white background is a characterization of the actual image of the ship, which is a bright white and bears a large red cross on its front, bow, and sides. Here, the shield sits surrounded by a light blue scroll, alluding to the ship gently sailing through rolling waves of water. The Red Cross is an iconic symbol that denotes a hospital or medical vessel. Surmounting the cross is a gold polestar which suggests a positive guiding force, expressing the USNS MERCY’s long-held role in caring for military personnel injured in combat or humanitarian support missions. The soft, subtle background of the shield paired with the strong, bold cross describes the general nature of a medical ship, providing comfort and care while possessing a clear, unrelenting presence wherever they are needed.

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Office of the Chief Legislative Liaison

Yellow and black are the colors associated with the United States Army.  Red, white, and blue are our National colors.  The heraldic chevron is a time-honored symbolic representation of the military and their vital contributions to National defense.  Illustrated at both the top and the bottom of the shield, the yellow and black portions envelop red, white, and blue chevrons, illustrating how the Department of the Army upholds American values at its core, while protecting and upholding them through its relationships with both Congressional bodies. 

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Federal Transit Administration

The dark blue stripe on the left represents urban areas and the green stripe at right refers to rural areas, suggesting the wide reach of the services the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) provides. The white bar in center is a common heraldic device used to symbolize strength and fortitude. The column here is used to signify the organization’s primary role of providing support to state and local governments in the form of funding, technical assistance, safety oversight, policy, planning, and technological research. The chevron in center characterizes upward movement, first speaking to the general concept of transit, and then to the organization’s motto and mission of improvement.

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Customs and Border Protection

The division of the shield into three sections: green, white, and light blue refers to the areas within the U.S. protected and secured by USCBP: land, air, and sea respectively. A riveted silver border surrounds these elements characterizing the American homeland, portraying strong and secure national borders. Rising from the center of the shield into the air, the red sun suggests prosperity. The column in base upholds the sun, denoting mission support, as well as the bolstering of legal trade which in turn creates economic growth for the United States.

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DCSA

The portcullis, a massive metal gate used to protect and secure castles during times of attack, symbolizes the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency’s mission of defending the nation. The eagle, a symbol of the United States, is in flight lifting and lowering the portcullis using its chains, which personifies the gatekeeping function of the organization; denying or granting entry to the continuous flow of classified information, materials, technology, and personnel seeking access to federal agencies. The three arrowheads at the base of the portcullis are adapted from the seal of the Department of Defense and represent the Armed Services, specifically the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

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DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS - N8

A silver chevron descends from above, striking the top of the anvil, illustrating the fleeting but dynamic moment of integration where N8 performs its duties. The gold rays emanating out from the strike convey both the national and naval prosperity that occurs as a result of the N8’s work.  The anvil is a vital component in the practice of blacksmithing and here serves as a representation of the tools required to transform national resources into sea power. Surrounding the anvil, the three stars denote the N8 as a three-star principal official in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

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USCGC HAROLD MILLER

The blue and green colors used in the division of the shield, separated by a narrow line of yellow, refer to the flag of the Solomon Islands which shares a similar design. The Solomon Islands were the site of various battles during the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign during World War II. The up-and-down division of the shield is a characterization of the path Miller took as he guided Boat No. 3 to the different American positions. The green scales decorating the lower half of the shield are a reference to the “Green Dragons,” a nickname given to American APD vessels used during the Guadalcanal Campaign, such as the USS MCKEAN, due to their green camouflage paint. The silver star at base refers to the Silver Star Medal awarded to Harold Miller for his heroic actions taken during these battles.

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MINE DIVISION TWO TWO

Alluding to the designation of Mine Division Two Two, the two large mines illustrated in contrasting colors signify the night and day, round-the-clock mission of the command.  The reversing of colors from one side of the shield to the other is referred to as counter-changing in heraldic design and recalls the Mine Countermeasures Mission.  The faint radiating pattern on the shield characterizes the type of technology used to locate mines deep underneath the ocean’s surface.  Signifying a strong command of the seas, the trident in center consists of three points, each representing a type of warfare capability possessed by the organization: surface, anti-submarine, and mine.  The heater shape of the shield pays tribute to the seal of Littoral Combat Squadron Two.