Strategic Communications Chief Hopkins Leaving NASA

WASHINGTON -- NASA Chief of Strategic Communications Robert Hopkins announced Monday that he will be leaving the agency for a position in the private sector.

Hopkins served as a senior adviser to Deputy Administrator Shana Dale and as assistant administrator for the recently established Office of Communications Planning before assuming the strategic communications role. In these positions, he led the formulation of a strategic communications framework and implementation plan for the agency that provided a foundation for activities including planning for NASA’s 50th anniversary in 2008. Hopkins also implemented several management initiatives, including a communications portal and tool kit and an agency-wide Communications Coordinating Committee to better integrate communications across NASA. He also developed plans to broaden understanding of NASA’s work and mission through outreach efforts such as NASA Future Forums and the NASA Lecture Series.

“Bob is innovative and empowers his people to think outside the box,” Dale said. “He and his team have developed message themes that resonate with the American public and figured out creative, new ways to deliver those messages. He will be missed.”

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin named Chris Shank as acting chief of strategic communications. Shank currently serves as the director of strategic investments in the Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation. Prior to joining NASA in 2005, Shank served as a professional staff member on the House Subcommittee for Space and Aeronautics, and held a variety of positions in the U.S. Air Force and at the National Reconnaissance Office.