Robert Hastings

Meet Robert

Robert Hastings is the Principal of Robert Hastings & Associates, a leadership and communications consultancy focused on the aerospace, defense, and mobility sectors. As a veteran C-Suite advisor, Hastings is a proven leader, business executive, strategic communicator, author, and veterans advocate with a track record of success spanning a forty-year multifaceted career in the military, corporate leadership, and public service.

A globally recognized, award-winning military and business leader, Robert is a former Principal Deputy/Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs who lead all Department of Defense communications, public information, and engagement programs. During his tenure with the Pentagon, Robert achieved notable success in military-media relations while managing national-level crises and complex strategic issues. He was a driving force in developing the U.S. Government’s Strategic Communications program.

Robert was most recently chief marketing & communications officer for Bell Textron Inc. where he planned and led the successful advocacy campaign which helped win the U.S. Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft program—one of the Department of Defense’s largest and most significant acquisition programs to replace the Army’s 2000+ Black Hawk helicopters with an estimated lifetime value in excess of $100 billion. The marketing effort has been called one of the best integrated marketing campaigns ever in the defense sector.

At BAE Systems, Robert led the successful market repositioning of the UK-headquartered company to be recognized as a critical component of the U.S. industrial base enabling significant U.S. market penetration and growth. At Northrop Grumman, he led communications activities for a newly formed Information Systems Sector winning key campaigns in cyber, military electronic systems, and commercial information technology services.

A decorated combat helicopter pilot, Robert is a retired Brigadier General from the Texas Military Department who successfully commanded U.S. Army and state military units from platoon to brigade level. He has served in leadership roles with numerous military and veteran advocacy organizations, including the Army Aviation Association of America, the National Defense Industrial Association, the USO, and the Armed Services YMCA.

Robert is a member of the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame, the Defense Information School Hall of Fame, and the winner of the prestigious Lt. Col. Maggie Megellas award for distinguished public service.