Public Affairs Corporate Communications

DAVID A. BOLGER

********@*****.*** 703-***-**** linkedin.com/in/davidbolger2017

Public Affairs, PR, and Communications Professional

Media Relations Corporate Communications Crisis Communications

Accomplished Public Affairs, PR, and Corporate Communications professional skilled in creating and managing high-impact communications plans, campaigns, and strategies for large, fast-moving global organizations. Demonstrated aptitude in railroad, transit, space, avionics, aviation, energy, environment, surface transportation, logistics, defense, and telecommunications sectors. Worked in legislative branch as former Senate staff member and experience in regulatory and policy management in the Executive Branch of government, specifically the U.S. Department of Transportation-Federal Railroad Administration, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the State Department. International experience working in the European Union, Japan, United Arab Emirates, China, and Afghanistan.

E X P E R I E N C E

U.S. Department of State Washington, D.C. 2024-2025

Public Affairs Specialist

Served as Public Affairs Officer for the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) responsible for media relations outreach and communications relating to relocating and resettling of Afghan allies who worked with U.S. armed forces and diplomatic personnel over two decades of war in Afghanistan. Maintained Secret security clearance. Pitched story ideas to reporters, prepared press strategy and tactics to senior State Department officials and National Security Council staff members that would garner positive media coverage. Drafted press guidance, briefing materials, talking points, and speeches for senior State Department officials.

Communications Strategist and Consultant Washington, DC 2007– 2024

Through my consulting practice, Executive Briefing, Inc., LLC, I provided marketing, public affairs, crisis communications services for clients in the transportation, telecom, defense, national security, and intelligence sectors. Advised clients on strategies and tactics for media relations, corporate communications, public affairs, internal and digital communications, marketing, and crisis management. Key clients included Federal Express, JetBlue Airways, OneWeb, ENSCO, Inc., Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, Palm Center, and Brown University’s Watson Institute for International & Public Affairs. Worked as a Political Analyst for Al Jazeera Media Network (2020-2023) commenting on-air during the 2020 Presidential Election cycle, providing commentary on political campaigns, corporate marketing, political elections, energy, environment, national security, defense, and transportation issues.

ENSCO, INC., Springfield, VA March 2022–February 2023

Senior Writer/Communications and Marketing Strategist

Responsible for writing news releases, ad copy, social media text, opinion editorials, by-line articles, speeches, and collateral material for an international engineering company with customers in the railroad, aviation, aerospace, and cybersecurity sectors. Developed communications strategies for public affairs, strategic communications, and other stakeholder engagement opportunities to promote the technology company before multiple audiences.

SBD ADVISORS, Washington, DC 2015-2017

Director of Communications

Served as lead spokesperson and communications consultant for this global consulting firm representing clients in the national security, defense, and transportation and mobility sectors.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE,

Task Force for Business Stability Operations-Afghanistan Washington, DC 2012–2015

Director of Strategic Communications

Developed communications strategies to encourage global organizations to invest in the private sector in Afghanistan. Traveled extensively to remote locations throughout Afghanistan to seek out and develop untapped opportunities highlighting energy sector within the country. Fostered and cultivated open and collaborative lines of communication with Afghan government agencies.

BURSON-MARSTELLER, Washington, DC 2010– 2011

Managing Director

Managed communications and marketing strategies for a diverse portfolio of transportation, energy, telecommunications, environmental, and financial services clients at the world’s largest PR firm. Strategically managed multimillion-dollar budgets and programs spanning government affairs, social media management, crisis communications, public affairs, and national/international media relations. Developed customized advocacy communications campaigns targeting stakeholders in the media, organized labor, and federal and state government.

UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC., Washington, DC 2002–2007

Director of Global Public Relations

Served as Lead Spokesman and Chief Communications Officer on global public policy issues affecting the world’s largest package delivery company with annual revenues of $43 billion. Led public affairs, marketing, and advocacy strategies for transportation, energy, environmental, security, and trade policy matters before federal, state, and international governments. Managed a cross-functional team of consultants and in-house professionals in offices and distribution centers throughout the UPS global network. Responsible for communications campaigns and lobbying activities targeting key Senate and House committees and offices on Capitol Hill, in state capitals, and around the world.

UNITED STATES TELECOM ASSOCIATION, Washington, DC 1998-2001

Vice President for Communications

Chief communications and Public Affairs officer on telecommunications policy for a trade association comprised of 1,200+ local telecom companies. Created and executed public policy communications and marketing campaigns focused on promoting the importance of local telecom providers to the nation. Responsible for communications, public affairs, and marketing strategies for use in regulatory political advocacy campaigns. Served as Managing Editor of award-winning monthly magazine, TeleTimes.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION Washington, DC 1994-1998

Director of Public Affairs

Lead spokesman and senior public information officer for the federal agency overseeing the nation’s freight and passenger railroads. Responsible for managing a top-performing team of public affairs officials to execute public affairs, media relations, and crisis communications strategies that promoted railroad safety and technology. As a Political Appointee, I worked in the U.S. Department of Transportation on transportation, energy, and environmental issues.

EDUCATION & Affiliations

MBA, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, United Kingdom

B.A., Political Science, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL

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