As a director at Pinkston, D.J. leads a team of experienced strategists, writers and designers in creating and implementing strategic communications campaigns for corporations, nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups and individual thought leaders.
D.J. brings a unique perspective to client campaigns, having worked for major news outlets as well as in various communications leadership roles in the federal government. His unique ability to fuse these two perspectives means he knows what kinds of stories reporters and the public find compelling, and he knows how to help leaders tell their stories in an effective way whether it’s in print, on screen or in person.
Prior to joining Pinkston, D.J. was communications director for a U.S. senator from Oklahoma, communications director for the U.S. House Committee on Small Business, and press secretary for a U.S. representative from Alabama. He previously worked at both CNN and Fox News, where as an assignment editor and producer he helped develop coverage of breaking and featured news.
D.J. earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast communications from Liberty University, and a master’s degree in public management from The Johns Hopkins University. He has served on the boards of several state and nonprofit agencies focused on family issues, including the Virginia State Board of Social Services and Virginia’s Kids Belong, which advocates for children in the foster care system.
