Anyone seen Michael Steele on television lately? He seems to have gotten the message from the rank and file, which is that his first priority is raising money, recruiting candidates and building the party, not being a talking head. And, as if in response to those who criticized Steele for a lack of message discipline, today he announced the hiring of the new communications director for the RNC. Full release below the jump.

WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele continued to fill key staff positions by announcing the selection of Trevor Francis as the RNC's Director of Communications.

“I am excited to be adding Trevor, a communications strategist with extensive private sector, political and government experience, to my team,” Steele said. “Filling key staff positions, together with analyzing and implementing the findings of our top-to-bottom review of the committee's operations, will help the RNC spread our message and elect more Republicans.”

Trevor is currently a Managing Director at Burson-Marsteller where he develops and oversees communications and media programs for a portfolio of government, corporate and non-profit clients.  After working on the 2000 George W. Bush for President Campaign, Trevor served in several communications positions in the Bush Administration, most recently as Press Secretary to Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans.

Today's announcement marks Trevor's second tenure at the RNC. Previously, Trevor worked in Communications under former RNC Chairmen Haley Barbour and Jim Nicholson.

Trevor, originally from Montville, New Jersey, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.