GSA names new communications administrator

Edward Blakely is the new associate administrator for the General Services Administration’s Office of Citizen Services and Communications (OCSC), according to an announcement earlier this week.

He replaces David Bethel, who left the job last month to return to private-sector work as a communications consultant.

Bethel’s departure came close on the heels of the announced retirements of other GSA leaders, including Marty Wagner, deputy commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service, and John Sindelar, special adviser to the administrator.

Blakely was director of the Department of Strategic Communication for Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. He created a virtual communications, marketing and advertising agency, providing Web content and design.
“Ed’s impressive experience in both the private and public sectors will prove an asset for GSA and OCSC,” said GSA Administrator Lurita Doan, in a statement.

The office houses GSA’s internal and external communications. OCSC’s Office of Citizen Services provides access to information and services required by the public and other federal government agencies.

Before working for the state of Maryland, Blakely was vice president at Smith and Harroff, an Alexandria, Va.-based advertising firm. He worked with clients such as the Nuclear Energy Institute and the Arizona Cardinals.

Blakely graduated from the University of Southern California in 1965 with a telecommunications degree.