Jen Rae Wang Has Left NASA HQ Office of Communications
Jen Rae Wang Resigns As NASA Associate Administrator of the Office of Communications
“I just wanted to let you know that Jen Rae Wang has resigned her position as associate administrator of the Office of Communications. I want to thank Jen Rae for the hard work she put into leading the office during this extended transition time. In the interim, I’ve asked Bob Jacobs to pick up duties as acting associate administrator as our search for a successor begins. Bob is no stranger to this role, and I’m confident we will be able to advance the important work underway in Communications as we look for a new associate administrator. Please give Bob your full support.”
Keith’s note: Jen Rae Wang was a Trump Administration political appointee. She resigned and left the building barely 2 weeks after a new NASA Administrator showed up for work. Clearly there was a difference in opinion as to how NASA public affairs was going to operate. I do not know her and had no interaction with her whatsoever during her time at NASA – but I certainly wish her well.
Does this signify some change in communications strategy or tenor?
How, specifically, could NASA improve its communication with the outside world? I have made suggestions in various forums but I am curious how others see this matter. Keith has made numerous suggestions in particular instances, but what about an over-all approach or mindset change? What should be the shape and content of such a change…if it is merited?
NASA doesn’t know what NASA is.
This complicates communications.
Well, she was a Trump Administration political appointee. She resigned and left the building barely 2 weeks after a new NASA Administrator showed up for work. Clearly there was a difference in opinion as to how NASA public affairs was going to operate.
That does not mean that Jen Rae Wang was ineffective during her tenure – rather, according to my sources, Bridenstine has his own plans and wants to staff that office with people he as selected. Its that simple. Really.
I wasn’t pointing to her tenure specifically, just the PAO tone/strategy that’s been in place (seemingly) at the agency for decades.
As Al Reinert had said (I’m going from my best recollection) at the Houston premiere of his film For All Mankind, “Only the US government could make going to another celestial body boring.”
Something needs to change. Let’s hope that Admin. B is effective at ‘sprucing things up’.
Oh for sure. Ever watch, for instance, a pre or post-launch discussion that NASA sets up? Moderators just seem bone-headed, not even college junior level.
And who on earth has better material?
Wasn’t she was appointed because of her support during the campaign? Peter Principle?
Apparently that was not enough for her to stay.
Does NASA have a communications strategy? It is a question that predates Jen Rae Wang’s presence though its too bad she made no effort apparently to try and fix it. When NASA produced paper products you could count on a specific set of products for a particular mission and we pretty much knew what was planned, what happened, and the overall outcome. For many years they’ve given up on paper and so now everything is social media based and its a free for all-its hard to tell the point of entry, what is new and up to date, what information is decades old, where to go for particular kinds of information. Particularly stupid is the lack of media resources and depending on internet based photo services to distribute NASA imagery, Who knows where to go for anything?
Social media has become the bugaboo for many federal agencies, not just NASA. In particular, this current administration struggles, with it’s (non-existant?) communications strategy of POTUS tweets and WH Communications cleans up after the fact. But NASA has seemed to lack a cohesive front to public relations for awhile now. Perhaps Mr. Bridenstine has a plan?
she sued the state of Neb. for discrimination .. wonder if that figured in..
No. It had nothing to do with that. Bridenstine has his plans and ideas and wants to bring his own team in. Its actually as simple as that.
Maybe she thought she’d get the top communications job and when that didn’t happen it was time to go? It’s not unusual for a second in command to pull the rip cord if they don’t get the top job.
In any event, good luck with whatever’s downrange!
She was the Associate Administrator for Communications. That was the top job.