Jason Townsend Online space communicator by day who craves good friends, food + wine by night

Jason Townsend Online

Jason Townsend's Resume

Summary

Jason is an industry leader in communications with over 17 years of experience in strategic and innovative use of digital tools, social media messaging and website content. Now leading efforts in NASA's strategic communications, he's directed the efforts of and executed some of the largest Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat accounts across those platforms, working on projects that have earned three Emmy awards, two Shorty Awards for best use of social media, two Webby Awards for best corporate use of social media and two Webby Awards for best websites.

During his NASA career, Jason has focused on telling the stories of the agency’s people, missions and programs across a digital landscape of over 500 social media accounts on 18 platforms. Working with an in-house social media team, he was at the forefront of communicating NASA’s story to a community of followers grown from 12 million in 2012 to 111 million strong in 2019. Jason has been regularly called on as an expert in the use of social media, advising agency leadership on social media best practices, policy, and upcoming social media activities. He also regularly speaks to external audiences at universities and conferences about case studies and lessons learned from some of NASA’s largest communications campaigns.

Previously, Jason was the webmaster for NOAA, a federal agency that monitors and studies the Earth, and the US Institute of Peace, a non-governmental organization dealing with foreign policy and international relations. At NOAA, he created and developed online content for NOAA.gov and NOAA’s social media accounts. At the Institute, he oversaw the daily operations of the USIP.org web site content management system, e-mail marketing system, social media accounts, and a matrixed team of content contributors. He also worked on the NASA.gov website as a web editor and multimedia producer at both NASA Headquarters and the Goddard Space Flight Center.

Jason got his start as a freelance web designer for small local businesses and university student organizations in 1999.

Work Experience
Lead Communications Program Manager at NASA

Jason Townsend is a lead program manager for NASA's Communications, responsible for leading the planning, development and implementation of special projects that enable and support strategic communications efforts. This includes the modernization and overhauling of NASA's websites, operations of a suite of communications tools used to share information with NASA's audiences and the transition of NASA's television networks to a modern streaming service, NASA+. Additionally, he provides comprehensive long-range planning of new communications initiatives and projects, while also serving as the communications liaison to the Office of the CIO and an advisor to agency leadership on communications strategy and special projects.

Communications Program Manager at NASA

Served as a program manager for NASA's Communications, responsible for leading the planning, development and implementation of strategic communications efforts and managing the integration of communications functions and operations across the agency. He led the development of policy, procedures and guidance in a variety of communications functional areas and conducted comprehensive long-range planning of communications initiatives and activities, particularly concentrated around the technology and tools used by NASA to reach our audiences. Additionally, he regularly advised agency leadership on communications strategy and efforts.

Deputy Social Media Manager at NASA

Served as deputy social media manager at NASA, where he helped oversee and coordinate over 500 social media accounts covering NASA's people, missions, and programs. He worked with NASA's internal social media operators and its large community of fans and followers to tell NASA's story using tools such as the agency's flagship Twitter account, @NASA, through Facebook and Instagram, and on recent tools like Snapchat and Facebook Live. Mr. Townsend advised agency leadership on social media best practices, policy, and upcoming social media activities. He also planned the successful NASA Socials (formerly Tweetups) that take online engagement with fans and followers to the next level through behind-the-scenes, in-person experiences at NASA facilities.

Webmaster at NOAA

Served as the webmaster and online content manager for NOAA.gov, overseeing the operations and maintenance of the agency's website and social media accounts; specializing in the development of online content by creating, producing, identifying, gathering or adapting new and existing materials from NOAA Communications staff at headquarters and the six line offices; integrating NOAA content into agency social media accounts, such as Twitter (@NOAA) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/usNOAAgov); and coordinating development of new content in response to topical trends on social media. Represented NOAA's online communications to Department of Commerce and other cabinet-level coordinating committees.

Web Editor and Multimedia Producer for NASA.gov at InDyne, Inc.

Served as an editor and producer at NASA Headquarters for the Webby Award-winning NASA.gov website, managing the operations of the site by selecting content for daily updates; promoting new content to the agency homepage; planning and coordinating the release of new science and technology stories; engaging the public using traditional and innovative new platforms such as web chats, video streaming of events, and social media campaigns; strategically planning new sections and content; and providing guidance on development of new features and enhancements to the web site and web tools leading to a better user experience and increased user satisfaction ratings. Additionally, provided support for the agency's social media by integrating web content into NASA's social media accounts on Twitter (@NASA) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/NASA); staffing agency Tweetup events for Twitter followers; and responding to social media inquiries from members of the public.

Online Communications Specialist at the US Institute of Peace

Served as the webmaster providing oversight and general management of USIP.org, including selecting content for daily updates, operations of a content management system, and leadership for a matrixed team of 23 Content Contributors from each program. Focused on using programmatic requirements and staff input to redesign the organizations website from a flat brochure website to a dynamic, content-driven site better reflecting the Institute and it's mission. Additionally, provided daily management of an e-mail marketing system used for weekly newsletters and event announcements, social media accounts on Twitter (@USIP) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/usinstituteofpeace), and the online audio/visual components of the organization, including streaming video, on-demand video, and podcasts.

Technology Coordinator for the Federal Resource Center for Special Education at AED

Served as coordinator of all technology for a federally-funded grant project of the U.S. Department of Education, including a network of seven web sites and web applications for a network of national and regional special education centers with both internal and external audiences; operations of a content management system designed for non-technical users; and an online collaboration/conferencing system. Additionally, provided oversight with the budgeting and management of a web development firm with $100,000 of annual billings and served as the lead technology adviser on a $1,800,000 federal proposal.

Intern Web Editor for NASA.gov at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Served as an editor for NASA.gov at Goddard producing and enhancing the online versions of scientific stories, daily news releases, real-time breaking news announcements, press conferences, and press kits using a content management system and incorporating static text content, multimedia elements, boiler-plate statements, and specialized photographs and graphics. Focused on the strategic planning and development of content for the continued expansion and updates to over twelve sections of the NASA.gov website, including ways to enhance the NASA brand, promote new multimedia content, and expand the NASA web presence. Worked full-time during school breaks on-site and remotely teleworked part-time during the school year.

Education
West Virginia University

MS in Integrated Marketing Communications

Graduate coursework covering how to unify all pieces of marketing communications, including advertising, public relations, direct marketing, social media, strategy and sales promotion. This program adopted a human-centered approach where messaging caters to an audience and is consistent across all channels -- allowing one to align marketing and communications activities to ensure a constant flow of information to consumers from a variety of media.

University of Virginia

Graduate Coursework in Social & New Media eMarketing

Graduate coursework includes a class in effective and strategic use of social media for integrated media campaigns.

University of Colorado at Boulder

BA in Political Science

Undergraduate coursework includes classes in the digital newsroom, the contemporary mass media and journalism critical thinking and writing.

Awards & Honors
  • Emmy Award for Outstanding Interactive Program for "NASA And SpaceX: The Interactive Demo-1 Launch," September 2019
  • Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Interactive Program for "NASA's InSight Mars Landing," September 2019
  • Webby Award for Social Media in Best Overall Brand Social Presence for NASA Social Media, Apr 2019
  • Webby Award for Social Media in Corporate Communications for NASA Social Media, Apr 2019
  • Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Interactive Program for Coverage of the Cassini mission's Grand Finale at Saturn, Sep 2018
  • People's Voice Webby Award for Social Media in Corporate Communications for NASA Social Media, May 2017
  • Webby Award for Social Media in Corporate Communications for NASA Social Media, May 2017
  • Shorty Award in Government & Politics for NASA, Mar 2015
  • Shorty Award for Government for @NASA, April 2013
  • People's Voice Webby Award for Government Category for NASA.gov, May 2011
  • People's Voice Webby Award for Government Category for NASA.gov, May 2010
Tools & Skills

Web Tools - Adobe Creative Suite (Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat Pro); HTML/XHTML, Stylesheets (CSS), Javascript; Web Statistics (Google Analytics, Urchin, Web Trends); Content Management Systems (Drupal, WordPress, MediaWiki); E-mail Marketing Systems (Constant Contact, Bronto, ExactTarget, Vocus); Saleforce.com Constituent Relationship Management System; Web Accessibility (Section 508, Web Accessibility Initiative [WAI])

Social Media Tools - Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Instagram, Vimeo; Management Systems (Sprinklr, Hoostuite, CoTweet, TweetDeck); Twitter Tools (bit.ly Pro, TwitPic); Statistics (Twitter Analytics, Facebook Insights)

Desktop Tools - Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint); Macintosh/Windows

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About Me
Jason is an industry leader in communications with over 14 years of experience in strategic and innovative use of digital tools, social media messaging and website content. Now leading efforts in NASA's strategic communications, he's previously directed the efforts of and executed some of the largest Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat accounts across those platforms, working on projects that have earned Emmy awards, Shorty Awards for best use of social media and Webby Awards for best corporate use of social media and websites. He is currently a communications program manager at NASA where he is responsible for leading the planning, development and implementation of strategic communications efforts across the agency.
Find Me
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Contact Me
Located just off H Street
Washington, D.C. 20002

[email protected]