NAB hires Smith's former chief counsel

National Association of Broadcasters has hired Washington lawyer Christopher Ornelas to serve as its chief strategy officer.

Most recently, Ornelas worked in the telecommunications practice at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, where he represented wireline, cable, wireless and satellite operators.

Prior to that, Ornelas was chief counsel on communications and technology policy in the office then-Sen. Gordon Smith, who is now president of NAB, handling communications matters before the Senate Commerce Committee.

He also represented broadcasters while at Wilkinson Barker Knauer.