As President Biden ramps up his travel schedule, the White House has hired Greg Hale, a longtime veteran of several Democratic presidential campaigns, as the “Director of Presidential Production,” sources tell The Hill.
The hire comes as the White House Office of Scheduling and Advance has been adding more jobs to its team as Biden prepares for a rigorous travel schedule in the next six months during what is expected to be an unprecedented reelection battle against former President Trump.
Hale, an Arkansas native who is also a cattle farmer, is well-known in Democratic circles and has been dubbed a “master of events” and an “optics guru” by his colleagues. One source said Hale is “a pro at telling a story with a scene and a backdrop.”
He put together the scene of Hillary Clinton’s would-be acceptance speech at the Javits Center in New York and other backdrops during the 2016 presidential race.
Hale also worked on John Kerry and Al Gore’s presidential campaigns along with former President Bill Clinton’s reelection campaign.
The Hill reported in March that the White House was directing its limited headcount, which is prized during an election year, to the advance office, signaling travel as a priority.
“This is a sign of all systems go,” one source familiar with decision-making said at the time. “They’re preparing for what’s ahead, and there’s going to be a lot of travel, a lot of messaging events in the near future.” Hale will report to Ryan Montoya, who heads up the scheduling and advance department.