Stephen D. Hayes

Stephen D. Hayes operates his own consultancy company providing clients with public relations and business development advice.

Until January 2005 Hayes worked as Senior Vice President-Business Development at Gannon International. 

"Prior to joining Gannon International, Mr. Hayes served for five years as Managing Director-Public Relations for the 44 million member American Automobile Association (AAA). He was a senior political appointee in both" the Reagan administration and George H.W. Bush administration "and has managed the public affairs activities for three major Federal agencies.  His government experience also included service as Press Secretary to U.S. Senator Thad Cochran.

"Mr. Hayes has extensive experience in the transportation sector. He served as Assistant Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and as a Vice President of the Air Transport Association (ATA).  At ATA, he helped develop a national grass roots effort in support of aviation system modernization.  While at AAA, he spearheaded 'Crisis Ahead,' a national AAA campaign in support of transportation infrastructure improvements.

"In addition to his expertise in public affairs and communications, he has a strong background in international business. He served as Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs at the U.S. Agency for International Development when the agency was facing numerous international challenges including the civil war in Somalia, famine elsewhere in Africa and U.S. support for the Kurdish minority in northern Iraq.  In the early 1990s, Mr. Hayes was one of the founders and managers of The Gannon Pacific Company.  He worked for six years on the staff of the U.S.-Saudi Arabian Joint Economic Commission, which provided U.S. technical and managerial expertise to assist in Saudi Arabian economic and social development.

"Mr. Hayes served as an officer in the U.S. Navy and was awarded the Bronze Star and Meritorious Commendation Medal for heroism in combat in Vietnam.

"He holds an M.A. in Government and International Relations from Georgetown University and a B.A. in Philosophy from Dartmouth College."


 * Director, American Near East Refugee Aid

Other SourceWatch resources

 * Swift Boat Veterans for Truth