Robin D. Thurman
Robin D. Thurman joined BAE Systems as the Director of Communications last spring. She is responsible for internal and external communications and community relations for the Customer Solutions Group. Additionally, she is redesigning the company’s intranet and responsible for integrating all divisions and newly acquired companies with internal communication highlights and working with the London headquarters’ office.
She was previously at Guest Services, Inc. (GSI) as the corporate Vice President of Business Development. She was responsible for the company’s sales, marketing, public relations, advertising, media and community relations, and brand management. Ms. Thurman oversaw sales and marketing nationwide in GSI’s food service units, restaurants, national and state park accounts, hotel and luxury condominium management units and recreation facilities.
Before Guest Services, Inc., Robin spent nearly two years as the Director of the National School Boards Foundation (NSBF). She managed a corporate Board of Trustees to promote the Foundation's mission to foster excellence and equity in public education through innovation in school board leadership and community engagement. Her primary goal was to develop projects and funding needed to launch high-quality, innovative programs to help increase school board effectiveness throughout the nation.
Robin served 10 years as the Senior Manager of Community Relations for a Fortune 100 company, TRW (Systems and Information Technology) until acquired by Northrop Grumman. She managed community relations programs and philanthropy both locally, in the Washington Metropolitan Area, and nationally in over twelve communities. As TRW continued to expand globally, Ms. Thurman began coordinating international public affairs programs in the UK, Jamaica and South Africa. She focused primarily on education initiatives (preschool through university), civic events and cultural organizations, recruitment of TRW volunteers and coordinating media coverage to enhance TRW's visibility throughout the world.
Robin holds many leadership positions. She is a recent (2007) graduate of Leadership Washington and also a graduate of Leadership Fairfax. She is currently the President of the Board for The Womens Center and serves on the Board of Directors of many other charities including the American Red Cross, Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce’s Corporate Relations committee as co-chair, Fairfax County Public Library Foundation, the INOVA (Hospital) Foundation, Boys and Girls Club.
Additionally, she serves on the Advisory Councils of the Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent's Business/Industry Advisory Council, the Girl Scout’s CEO Council, the Corporate Affinity Group, and Washington Grantmakers. She is former Chairman of the Business Relations Committee, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, and PTA Vice President at Oakton High School.
She previously was President, Corporate Community Relations Council; Corporate Chairman, Virginia Emergency Families for Children (VEFC) Gala; co-chair, Fair Lakes Business Council and the Fairfax Volunteer Center's annual awards event; coordinator, Fairfax Fair Science and Technology; and on the fundraising committees for the Wolf Trap Ball and Loudoun Hospital Gala.
Robin moved to Washington, D.C. to work for her Arizona Senator, Dennis DeConcini. Senator DeConcini taught Mrs. Thurman the legislative process and oriented her to Capitol Hill. Over a three-year period, she held various legislative positions in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
Robin was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and graduated from Northern Arizona University. She holds a Masters Degree from Arizona State University. She also attended the University of Virginia and obtained her Principal Certificate in School Administration.