NDIA appoints new chief communications officer

The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) said on Monday that it has appointed René Carbone Bardorf as its new chief communications officer.

Bardorf will report to NDIA President and CEO Craig McKinley.

"René is a highly respected, talented leader who will bring a wealth of experience and perspective to NDIA as we approach nearly 100 years of support to America's defense Industry and our men and women in uniform," Arnold Punaro, chairman of the NDIA Board of Directors, said.

As chief communications officer, Bardorf will lead NDIA's corporate relations, community outreach and overall corporate communications strategy.

"Building a strong coalition of defense-industry businesses, nonprofits,  and individuals during challenging fiscal and political times is foundational to NDIA's vision, and René will play a critical role in bringing our strategy to life," McKinley said.

Bardorf joins NDIA from the Department of Defense, where she held the White House-appointed position of deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs. Bardorf was a principal adviser to the secretary of defense on matters related to public affairs and community outreach.

Before joining the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Bardorf served as the founding executive director of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. Previously, for 13 years, Bardorf served in a number of civilian leadership positions in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a co-founder of the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.