John Leslie III

John Leslie III has over 34 years of experience in federal government public affairs, currently serving as a Public Affairs Officer at NOAA's Office of Communications and External Affairs since February 1998, with an anticipated retirement on February 28, 2025. In this role, John regularly interacts with the media regarding NOAA's weather satellite programs. Prior experience includes serving as a Board member for WABJ from 2004 to 2005, and working as a Public Affairs Assistant/Junior Press Officer at the Federal Trade Commission from December 1991 to December 1997, where John honed communication skills with local and national reporters. Early career experiences include internships and assistant roles at prominent media outlets such as U.S. News & World Report, Virginian-Pilot, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and The Washington Post. John earned a Bachelor's of Science in Mass Communication/Media Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University, having also studied at Duquesne University.