Nashville, Tennessee --- The Tennessee Department of Safety has restructured its Communications Office, in order to communicate more effectively with both internal and external customers. Melissa McDonald, who has been the agency spokesperson for 16 months, is being promoted to Communications Manager. Julie Oaks, who has been on loan to Safety from TDOT since January, is staying at Safety permanently, and is becoming the agency's primary media contact.

Interim Commissioner Gerald Nicely said, " These women work well together, and are dedicated to informing the public about the good work done by employees in the Department of Safety. I have every confidence that they will help us restore public faith in this agency as we move forward."

In her new position, McDonald will oversee all department communications, both internal and external. She has more than 20 years of experience in broadcast news, specifically radio. She was News Director of the Tennessee Radio Network for almost five years. During her tenure, the network was honored with six national news coverage awards. Before that, she was an anchor/reporter at WSM Radio and WLAC Radio in Nashville , and served as News Director of WZGC-FM in Atlanta . Her experience also includes time in a small advertising agency and at a non-profit agency. Prior to coming to TDOS in early 2005, she worked for three years as the Web Coordinator and Publications Specialist for the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).

A native of Cookeville , McDonald attended Tennessee Technological University there. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro with a B. S. in Mass Communications.

Julie Oaks has 10 years experience in television news and two years in media relations with the State of Tennessee . She is a graduate of MTSU with a degree in Media Journalism. While there, Oaks was News Director of the student-run television station and president of the school's chapter of the Radio Television News Director Association (RTNDA).

A native of Elizabethton, Oaks began her career in television at WJHL Newschannel 11 in Johnson City as a director. During college, she worked at the City of Murfreesboro Government Television Channel 9 before joining WKRN Channel 2 in Nashville . At WKRN, Oaks was a newscast producer and received a Best Newscast Regional Emmy Award from the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences and Best Newsc ast and Best Spot News Coverage awards from the Associated Press for her work on News 2 at 4:00pm . Prior to coming to Safety, she was a Community Relations Officer for TDOT's middle Tennessee region.

The Tennessee Department of Safety's mission is (www.tn.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.