ML24155A161

News Release-24-042: Harold Pittman Appointed NRC Director of Public Affairs

ML24155A161
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Issue date:	05/30/2024
From:	Office of Public Affairs
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News Release-24-042
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No: 24-042 May 30, 2024 CONTACT: Office of Public Affairs, 301-415-8200 Harold Pittman Appointed NRC Director of Public Affairs

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair Christopher Hanson has appointed Harold Hal Pittman as director of the agencys Office of Public Affairs. A retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral with decades of public affairs experience in private industry, the non-profit sector and the Department of Defense, Pittman joins the agency effective June 16.

Hal Pittman brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience, gained through positions of high public trust in the military and energy sect or, said Hanson. He is particularly well suited to support the NRCs important openness and transparency goals in this time of dynamic change in the agency.

The director of public affairs reports to the Chair, who by statute is the agencys spokesperson. In this position, Pittman will provide advice and guidance to the Chair and senior agency officials and oversee the agencys public affairs professionals at NRC headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, and the four regional offices. He will also be responsible for the agencys crisis communication and social media programs.

Pittman joined the Senior Executive Service in January 2021 as director of the Defense Media Activity at Fort Meade, Maryland, where he led Department of Defenses global employee communication capability. He was also responsible for training the militarys 4,000 public affairs and visual information specialists through the Defense Information School.

Previously, Pittman was an executive with Arizonas largest utility company, Arizona Public Service, which includes the Palo Verde nuclear power plants, and was president and CEO of Special Olympics Iowa, leading sports training and wellness efforts for 11,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities. In addition, Pittman founded two non -profits focused on veteran workforce development - the Arizona Corporate Council on Veteran Careers and the national utility industry Veterans in Energy - and continues to participate with non-profit boards.

Pittman served a full career as a U.S. Navy officer, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral. In uniform, he led public affairs for some of the militarys most visible and sensitive operations, including twice serving as U.S. Central Command Communications Director during combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also commanded the Joint Public Affairs Support Element; served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Joint Communication in the Pentagon; and led communications for the NATO International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan.

A graduate of Appalachian State University, Pittman also earned an MBA from Temple Universitys Fox School of Business and a masters degree in journalism from American University. He was an MIT Seminar XXI Fellow in foreign politics and international relations and is a graduate of the Dartmouth Tuck Business School Advanced Management Program.

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