By Capt. Balinda ONeal, KFOR Regional Command East
CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo — Communication professionals from Kosovo Police and NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) Regional Command East met at Camp Bondsteel Sept. 25, 2026, for a professional development exchange focused on clear, timely and credible communication.
Public affairs personnel from the Florida Army National Guard’s 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Alaska ARNG’s 134th Public Affairs Detachment and Wyoming ARNG’s 197th PAD led instruction on messaging, media engagement, social media, mobile visual storytelling and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
The exchange brought together Kosovo Police public information officers from multiple regions to discuss common communication challenges and practical techniques for engaging the public and media.
Maj. Luljeta Mehmeti-Quigley, chief of the Kosovo Police Sector for Information, Analysis and Communication, Office for Public Relations, said effective communication is especially important during rapidly developing events.
“Public affairs plays an important role in ensuring that accurate, timely and responsible information reaches the public, particularly during situations that may develop quickly or attract significant public attention,” Mehmeti-Quigley said.
Participants discussed developing concise messages, communicating early enough to be useful, preparing for media engagements and tailoring information to different audiences. The exchange also addressed relationships with journalists, social media content, mobile photography and video, and protecting sensitive information while communicating with the public.
Florida Army National Guard Maj. Tahisha Coleman, 53rd IBCT and KFOR RC-E public affairs officer, said the exchange was also intended to strengthen relationships among communicators who often engage with the same audiences.
“This exchange was about more than sharing techniques; it was about strengthening relationships between public affairs professionals who often communicate with the same audiences,” Coleman said. “By learning from one another and understanding how each team operates, we are better prepared to coordinate, communicate effectively and provide timely, accurate information when it matters most.”
The course also examined how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, can support public affairs professionals while maintaining human oversight and professional standards.
Mehmeti-Quigley said established relationships between Kosovo Police and KFOR public affairs teams can improve coordination when information needs to move quickly.
“Because the teams already know each other and understand their respective roles and responsibilities, they can communicate more quickly, coordinate more effectively and share relevant information when needed,” Mehmeti-Quigley said.
She said the exchange also gave participants practical tools and new perspectives they could adapt to their daily public affairs work.
“We hope participants will take away practical knowledge, new perspectives and useful tools that they can apply directly to their daily public affairs work,” Mehmeti-Quigley said.
The engagement continued professional cooperation between Kosovo Police and KFOR communicators while strengthening relationships that can support future coordination.
Regional Command East conducts its mission as part of NATO’s Kosovo Force to contribute to a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all communities in Kosovo, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999.
