NASA communications chief resigns

WASHINGTON, May 4 (UPI) -- NASA officials say the agency's chief of strategic communications, Joe Davis, is leaving to take a position with a private sector public affairs firm.

Davis served on the senior management team for NASA Administrator Michael Griffin, overseeing the offices of legislative, public, external affairs and education.

"Joe has been a trusted member of my management team since the day I came back to NASA," Griffin said. "He has provided sound advice and counsel regarding every facet of NASA's strategic posture. We are sorry to see him leave, but he will always be welcome at NASA. Many of us have come to know Joe as a colleague, but I also count him a friend."

Prior to NASA, Davis served as principal deputy director of public affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy and on the senior staff of Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham. In the Senate, he served on the staff of Sen. Connie Mack, R-Fla., and on the personnel staff of then Sen. Abraham, R-Mich.