NASA Names Four New Senior Staff Members

NASA announced Thursday that it has added four new members to its senior leadership team. 

Administrator Bill Nelson named Shahra Anderson Lambert, who previously served as director of strategic initiatives for the commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, as senior adviser for engagement, NASA said. 

Lambert served as a regional director under Nelson during his tenure as a U.S. senator from Florida. Lambert earned a bachelor’s degree from Mercer University and a master’s degree from Florida State University.

Bale Dalton, former director of Navy programs at Air Center Helicopters, will serve as the agency’s new deputy chief of staff. 

The Florida native previously served as a military legislative assistant to Nelson and as a foreign service officer at the Department of State. 

Prior to his reserve assignment, Dalton participated in multiple deployments in support of Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. 

NASA announced Bryan Gulley as its new media relations specialist. He brings nearly two decades of communications experience in the Senate, where he served as communications director for the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and for the Special Committee on Aging. 

Gulley also served as the press secretary of Nelson’s senatorial office. He more recently served as a senior analyst at Imbue Group, supporting the company’s business with the Department of Defense. 

As NASA’s new deputy press secretary, Nelson named Justin Weiss, who was most recently communications director for Rep. Adam Smith, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. 

Rational 360, an omnichannel public relations firm, previously hired Weiss to lead campaigns for advocacy coalitions, trade associations and nonprofits.