Dave Oates

Prof. Dave Oates, APR is a Lecturer in the School of Journalism and Media Studies at San Diego State University, part of the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts. With nearly 30 years of experience, he specializes in Corporate Communications and Crisis PR, advising organizations on reputation management. He holds an MBA from SDSU (2002-2004) and a B.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland (1987-1991).

His career spans roles as a U.S. Navy Public Affairs Officer, corporate PR professional, and founder of PR Security Service. He produced LinkedIn Learning courses on Crisis Communications and authored Amazon eBooks on crisis management strategies. Notably, he served as Past President of the San Diego Rotary Club, one of the world’s largest Rotary Clubs.

Key areas of expertise include crisis response for executive misconduct, product recalls, and large-scale incidents. His work has been featured in media outlets like the Huffington Post and NBC San Diego. He maintains certifications such as the Accredited Public Relations (APR) credential from PRSA.