Blakely Named Associate Administrator for GSA's Office of Citizen Services & Communications

GSA #10329

March 13, 2007
Contact: Jen Millikin (202) 501-1231
jennifer.millikin@gsa.gov

Washington, DC – U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Lurita Doan today announced Edward Blakely will serve as the agency’s Associate Administrator for its Office of Citizen Services and Communications (OCSC). 

“Ed’s impressive experience in both the private and public sectors will prove an asset for GSA and OCSC,” said Administrator Doan.  “I look forward to working with him on promoting and improving key citizen services and communications initiatives over the coming months.”

OCSC houses GSA’s internal and external communications capabilities into a single organization. OCSC’s Office of Citizen Services provides public access to information and services required by the public – as well as other federal government agencies – via the Internet, e-mail, telephone, fax and print. Through its Office of Communications, OCSC offers a full range of communication and marketing services to the media, federal agencies and GSA employees.

Mr. Blakely most recently served as Director of the Department of Strategic Communication for Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.  In this position, he created a virtual communications, marketing and advertising agency using existing state personnel and resources.  This virtual agency supported the governor and other state agencies by providing services such as brochures, annual reports, videos, banners, speeches, television and radio ads.  It also provided Web content and design all without having to contract these services out, thus saving Maryland taxpayers thousands of dollars. 

“It is an honor and privilege to serve President George W. Bush under the leadership of Administrator Doan,” said Mr. Blakely.  “I appreciate the opportunity to lead a successful OCSC effort on behalf of GSA.”

Before working for the state of Maryland, Mr. Blakely was vice president with the Alexandria, Va.,-based advertising firm of Smith & Harroff where he was responsible for writing, producing and directing numerous television and radio ads as well as longer format videos for such clients as the Nuclear Energy Institute, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the Arizona Cardinals, the National Restaurant Association, Alcan Aluminum and Westinghouse.  

Raised in Hawaii, Mr. Blakely graduated from the University of Southern California in 1965 with a degree in telecommunications. 

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Founded in 1949, GSA serves as a centralized procurement and property management agency for the federal government.  GSA manages more than one-fourth of the government’s total procurement dollars and influences the management of $500 billion in federal assets, including 8,300 government-owned or leased buildings and 170,000 vehicles.  GSA helps preserve our past and define our future, as a steward of more than 420 historic properties, and as manager of USA.gov, the official portal to federal government information and services. GSA’s mission to provide superior workplaces, expert technology solutions, acquisition services, purchasing and e-travel solutions and management policies, at best value, allows federal agencies to focus on their core missions. 

Did you know? USA.gov, maintained by GSA, is the government’s official Web portal, a one-stop shop for government information and services in 28 languages.  It contains a live chat so citizens can receive instant answers.