hastings external bio dec2014
TRANSCRIPT
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Robert T. Hastings, Jr.
Executive Vice President, Bell Helicopter Vice Chairman, North Texas Commission Colonel, Texas State Guard Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
Robert T. Hastings is a proven leader, business executive, and strategic communicator with a track record of success spanning a thirty+ year multifaceted career in military, public service and corporate leadership.
As Executive Vice President for Bell Helicopter, Mr. Hastings currently leads all aspects of the company’s global communications programs including government affairs, employee communications, public relations, marketing communications, branding, corporate giving, and community affairs.
Prior to joining Bell Helicopter, Mr. Hastings served in the Bush Administration, appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. As Chief Communications Officer, senior public affairs official and spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense, he was the principal advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense and senior Administration officials for strategic communication, public information, and internal information, leading a worldwide public affairs community of some 4000 military and civilian personnel. During his tenure with the Pentagon, Mr. Hastings was a driving force in the development of the U.S. Government’s Strategic Communications concept of operations. Working with the Service Public Affairs Chiefs and Combatant Commanders, he fostered unequaled cohesion and partnership among the diverse elements of the Defense public affairs and strategic communications communities, resulting in significant successes in the public affairs mission globally.
In addition to his current role at Bell Helicopter, Mr. Hastings has held senior communications and corporate leadership roles with Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems.
Mr. Hastings is a retired U.S. Army officer with more than 20 years experience as a Master Army Aviator and Public Affairs Officer. His assignments include command tours in Aviation and Cavalry and operational assignments in Europe, Central America, Iraq, and Bosnia. Mr. Hastings continues to serve in uniform as a Colonel with the Texas Military Department where he leads the 19th Civil Affairs Regiment of the Texas State Guard.
In 2009 he was awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal. He was honored by the University of Maryland University College as its 2010 Distinguished Alumni and by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) with the 2010 Lloyd B. Dennis Distinguished Leadership Award. Additionally, he has earned PRSA’s Silver Anvil Award of Excellence and IABC’s Gold Quill Award for Excellence in Communications Management.
Mr. Hastings serves on the Board of Directors of the USO Metropolitan DC, Armed Services YMCA, Hope for the Brave, and the Executive Committee of the North Texas Commission. He is a licensed commercial pilot with a broad range of experience and ratings in both military and civilian aircraft. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in government studies from the University of Maryland and has completed executive studies at the Wharton School of Business and the University of Michigan.
Mr. Hastings resides near Fort Worth, Texas.
Hastings Bio Dec 2014