Robert T. Hastings, APR, APR+M

Applying for: At-Large Director

EVP, Communications & Government Affairs, Chief of Staff
Bell Helicopter
Fort Worth, Texas

Biography

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. He also serves as the company’s Chief of Staff.

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 30 years combined federal and state military experience. His U.S. Army assignments include command tours in Aviation and Cavalry and operational assignments in Germany, Eastern Europe, Central America, Iraq, and Bosnia. In the Texas State Guard, Mr. Hastings commanded a Civil Affairs Regiment and served as Chief of Public Affairs and Chief of Staff-Army Component.

In 2009 he was awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal for his contributions as the Pentagon's chief communication and public affairs officer. He was honored by the University of Maryland University College as a Distinguished Alumni and by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) with the Lloyd B. Dennis Distinguished Leadership Award. Mr. Hastings is a recipient of the Order of St. George Medallion from the Cavalry & Armor Association, the Order of St. Michael Award from the Army Aviation Association of America, and is a member of the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame. Additionally, he has earned PRSA’s Silver Anvil Award of Excellence and IABC’s Gold Quill Award for Excellence in Communications Management.

Mr. Hastings is the Chairman of the North Texas Commission, and serves on the Board of Directors of General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the Armed Services YMCA, the Metropolitan DC USO, and the Advisory Council for the University of Florida Master’s Program in Global Strategic Communication. 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.