William N. Outlaw Appointed FHWA Director of Public Affairs

Topics:  William N. Outlaw

Federal Highway Administration
April 16, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 16, 2002
Contact: Lori Irving
Telephone: 202-366-0660
FHWA 11-02

Federal Highway Administrator Mary Peters today announced the appointment of William N. (Bill) Outlaw as the agency's director for public affairs.

"Bill's background in communications, government relations and the media will be a major asset to our agency," Peters said. "In addition, his knowledge of transportation and his extensive experience with highway issues will be important as we work to improve safety and mobility in America's intermodal transportation system."

Outlaw will direct communications and public affairs at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation. He joins the agency after nine years as director of communication for The Road Information Program (TRIP), a non-profit transportation research group. At TRIP, Outlaw coordinated the organization's communication and outreach efforts with public and private sector groups at the national and local levels and helped the organization gain media coverage of highway and transportation issues throughout the country.

Outlaw also has worked as press secretary to U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond (SC), as a press officer at the U.S. Agency for International Development and as press secretary for former Delaware Gov. Pete DuPont's 1988 presidential campaign. As a reporter, Outlaw covered foreign affairs and general assignment issues for the Washington Times. He also was a reporter and an editor for the Associated Press in North and South Carolina and at several South Carolina newspapers.

Outlaw was elected a vice president of the Washington chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and received the Diamond Award in June 2001 for his professional service to the chapter. In addition, he is an adjunct instructor at The George Washington University's Center for Professional Development and is a journalism instructor at the Institute for Experiential Learning.

He serves as a pro bono public affairs advisor for Carpenter's Shelter, which provides services for the homeless in the Alexandria, VA area, and he serves on the Board of Directors of First Night Alexandria.

Outlaw holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in communication from the University of South Carolina. He served in the U.S. Air Force, including a tour of duty in Vietnam.

Outlaw is a native of Florence, SC. He and his wife, Deborah, live in Alexandria, VA.