Press Release-04-045, NRC Names Directors of Communications and Office of Public Affairs
| ML041120393 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/21/2004 |
| From: | Office of Public Affairs |
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| Category:Press Release | |
| References | |
| Press Release-04-045 | |
| Download: ML041120393 (2) | |
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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, DC 20555-001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov Web Site: http://www.nrc.gov/OPA No.04-045 April 21, 2004 NRC NAMES DIRECTORS OF COMMUNICATIONS AND OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has named William N. Outlaw as its Director of Communications, a newly created position, and Eliot B. Brenner as the Director of its Office of Public Affairs. Both are veteran communications professionals.
Outlaw previously worked as Associate Administrator of Public Affairs for the Federal Highway Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, from April 2002 until last August.
Before that, he served for nine years as the Director of Communications for The Road Information Program, a non-profit transportation research group.
In addition, Outlaw has worked as press secretary to the late U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) and as a press officer at the U.S. Agency for International Development. His journalism experience includes working as a reporter for the Washington Times, as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press in North and South Carolina.
Outlaw holds a bachelors degree in journalism and a masters degree in mass communications from the University of South Carolina. He also served in the U.S. Air Force, including a tour of duty in Vietnam.
Last August, NRC Chairman Nils J. Diaz announced the establishment of the position of Director of Communications. Mr. Outlaw will report directly to the Chairman and is responsible for oversight of the offices of Public Affairs and Congressional Affairs. He will also provide policy and guidance for communication activities across the agency.
Brenner has worked since early 2001 as a communications consultant, specializing in aviation issues. Prior to that, he served for over four years as the Federal Aviation Administrations Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs, a position that entailed directing external and internal communications for that agency during high profile aviation disasters and air traffic control modernization. In addition, he has worked as a speechwriter for secretaries of Defense and Treasury.
He spent nearly two decades working for the United Press International (UPI) news service. During his time with UPI, he served as Senior National Security Correspondent and directed its Pentagon coverage of the Gulf War. He also co-authored a book, Desert Storm: The Weapons of War.
He holds a bachelors degree in journalism from Georgia State University in Atlanta and attended Oxford College of Emory University.
Brenner will be responsible for the agencys public affairs program, which involves interacting with the media and members of the public on NRC-related issues, issuing press releases and fact sheets, and providing advice to agency officials, among other responsibilities.