BAE Systems appoints Caitlin Hayden as senior VP of communications

Courtesy BAE Systems

As a member of the senior leadership team reporting to President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Tom Arseneault, Caitlin will lead the company’s external and internal communications activities in support of key business campaigns, community investment and employee engagement.

“With her national security expertise and extensive communications experience, Caitlin is well-positioned to drive the global narrative around our broad portfolio of innovative products and services,” said Tom Arseneault, BAE Systems, Inc. President and COO. “Caitlin will be a key voice on our senior leadership team as we support our aerospace and defense customers around the world.”

Most recently, Caitlin served as vice president of communications for the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), leading the organization’s outreach and communications functions, working with AIA member companies, including BAE Systems, to tell the aerospace and defence industry’s story in the US and globally. Caitlin joined AIA from Edelman, where she was executive vice president and media group director in the firm’s Washington, DC office.

Previously, Caitlin spent 15 years in the federal government. She served as a Special Assistant to President Barack Obama, Senior Director for Strategic Communications and Press, and spokesperson for the National Security Council. Prior to her work at the White House, Caitlin served with the Department of State in policy and communications assignments that spanned embassies and offices in Washington, DC, Afghanistan, Iraq, and the United Kingdom.