NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Image left: Christopher M. Shank, NASA's Chief of Strategic Communications. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls.

Christopher M. Shank became NASA's chief of strategic communications effective July 14, 2008. The position oversees the offices of communications planning (OCP), education, legislative and intergovernmental affairs, and public affairs. OCP provides long-term strategic communications planning across NASA program offices, mission directorates and field centers. Shank previously was director of strategic investments for NASA, where he was responsible for the formulation of the agency's $17 billion in programs and institutional budgets for the White House and Congress. Before that, Shank was the special assistant to NASA Administrator Michael Griffin, where he led the coordination of NASA’s Exploration Systems Architecture Study with Congress, the White House, the Pentagon, and other stakeholders. He also has dealt with a variety of other policy, program and budget issues since Griffin's confirmation in April 2005. Prior to joining NASA, Shank worked on Capitol Hill from 2001 to 2005 as a staff member for the House Science Committee, specializing in human spaceflight and Earth science issues.

Before coming to Capitol Hill, Shank served in the Air Force for 11 years, working at the Pentagon, National Reconnaissance Office and Air Force Space Command. He earned a master's degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado in Boulder, and a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame.

July 2008