Souda Spotlight: Public Affairs Specialist Kostas Fantaousakis Public Affairs Office

Kostas Fantaousakis, a native of Chania, has been a Team Souda member for 20 years. While working as a shift supervisor cook in the hotel industry in 2001, he was hired by MWR to be a cook at the All-hands club on base. He was later promoted to storekeeper and hired as a translator in the Command Management office. In 2009, he brought his talents to the Public Affairs Office where he translates articles, organizes community outreach events and designs digital products that tell Team Souda’s story.

What is a typical day like at Public Affairs?

I monitor local media by searching online news outlets, watching live TV announcements and through a subscription to the local newspaper. The focus is on articles that are pertinent to the base population, such as COVID-19 information, power outages, strikes – anything that may impact their daily life. If it is in the Greek media, I have to translate it. Then I include these articles in our daily media roundup. Once that is done, I focus on other tasks like working with Chaplain Spoke to organize community projects. The rest of the day is usually involved with laying out The Beacon on Adobe Indesign and various command-related graphic design projects in Photoshop. A big part of my job is helping the PAO plan and spend our budget as I am a Goverment Purchase Card holder. I am also a point of contact and assist the PAO with media queries.

How are you involved with The Beacon?

I use my graphic design and my page layout skills. All the workers at Public Affairs are certified experts in graphic design, especially Adobe Photoshop and InDesign. We are lucky to have Public Affairs help us achieve this training and this certification. I also write local culture and information articles.

How are you involved in organizing community relations events?

Either local organizations and facilities call me and ask for help, or base groups who would like to have an event reach out to either Public Affairs or the Chaplain’s office. Community outreach events are organized in coordination with NSA Souda Bay’s Chaplain’s office, so I assist as a liaison/interpreter by contacting local authorities and directors of facilities asking for permission and opportunities for Sailors to volunteer in the local community.

What do you like to do outside the office?

I teach a class downtown in Brazilian Jiu- Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts. I’m a certified MMA and Submission Grappling trainer by the Greek state. I attended a Greek Ministry of Sports school to get certification. I am also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Wander Braga – it took me more than 10 years to achieve this level. I also draw comics, and I’m especially well versed in super hero comic design. Right now I’m working on creating some poster pin-ups.

What do you want Team Souda to know?

The local community appreciates NSA Souda Bay’s support. It took several years of hard work to establish this connection with the local community. So thanks to Sailors and groups that make a difference and go the extra mile to either get funding or organize and show the local community that the base cares. The main motto of our community relations program is that we may be volunteering but our work ethic is that of a professional, so we try to do the best work ever and provide quality results.