Robert Hastings
Principles of Strategic Communications

Strategic Communication is the public relations community’s hot new catchphrase, our current version of “thinking outside the box” or “shifting the paradigm.” While the term strategic communication has found its way firmly into corporate boardrooms and is appearing on more and more corporate communicators’ business cards, the term remains largely undefined. The Department of Defense has developed a set of principles for strategic communication that, for the first time, defines the concept and outlines in clear terms what strategic communications means to leaders and communicators alike. This presentation will discuss the strategic communicators’ role in helping business leaders act and communicate in today’s highly dynamic information environment.

About Robert

Robert Hastings is a former acting assistant secretary of defense for Public Affairs (2008-2009). As the senior public affairs official and principle spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense, he served as staff advisor and assistant to the secretary and deputy secretary of defense for strategic communication, public information, internal information, and community relations as well as information training and audiovisual support to DoD activities, leading a worldwide public affairs community of some 3,800 military and civilian personnel. During his tenure with the Pentagon, Robert was a driving force in the development of the department’s strategic communications concept of operations.

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