The Leaders Crusade Episode 6 - MPIO Ashley McDonald

Ashley McDonald, Public Relations/Communications Manager

Ashley McDonald is an experienced media and public relations professional who recently transitioned from a 15+ year career in municipal and county governments to a new and exciting opportunity in the private sector with FLEETCOR’s North America Fuel Marketing Team.  

She was previously with Rutherford County Government as Public Information Officer (PIO)/Programs Coordinator, which she held for 2+ years. Before that role, she was with Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department for over 12 years, where she served as Public Information Officer since 2012. 

In 2019, McDonald received the prestigious President’s Award from the South Eastern Association of Fire Chiefs at their annual conference. In 2021, she received a Unit Citation for Valorous Conduct for her work as the lead PIO on a fatal small jet crash into a local lake involving high-profile passengers. 

A proud graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Ashley continues to serve as PIO for the Tennessee Firemen’s Association and the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association’s Mutual Aid System as a deployable asset statewide Incident Management Team (IMT). She is the Immediate Past President of the National Information Officers Association (NIOA), having served as President for Aug. 2019-Aug. 2021. During her time as President, McDonald led a focus group formed out of a need to create a professional designation process for PIOs. She is currently working with the Center for Public Safety Excellence’s Commission on Professional Credentialing to develop this credential.

Ashley is very active in her community and is a part-time Les Mills ™ Body Pump instructor at Gold’s Gyms in Murfreesboro and Smyrna, TN.