The Birth of a Baby-Boomer Campaign

Acosta, a former journalist, joined NASA in April 2003, several weeks after the shuttle Columbia accident. He led NASA's communications effort in the return to flight with the launch of the Discovery more than two years later.

"Although NASA has been an incredible work experience . . . it's nice to work for a company that's your core expertise," Acosta said.

Acosta is barred by ethics rules from contacting the space agency for one year, but he can still advise contractors with NASA interests.

Also at Qorvis, Kara Ross, a Clinton White House Midwest spokeswoman, joined as a senior director. She most recently worked for ACS Government Solutions and earlier for the Transportation Department, the Defense Department and former senator John Glenn (D-Ohio).

Here and There

Also moving about town . . . Samuel E. Whitehorn, general counsel of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, is joining McBee Strategic Consulting.

Gregory A. Joseph, who most recently worked on the successful reelection campaign of Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), has signed on with the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty as state policy director.

Patrick Morris, former press secretary for Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), has joined FasterCures/the Center for Accelerating Medical Solutions as vice president for external relations and communications. FasterCures is a nonprofit created under the auspices of the Milken Institute.

Bartlett, Bendall & Kode has added Rebecca Gradler, who worked for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under then-administrator Thomas Scully. She also lobbied on behalf of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and worked for Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa).