glassmanJames Glassman, a journalist and media executive who stepped down as founding executive director of the George W. Bush Institute in August, has taken the reins of Arlington, Va.-based Public Affairs Engagement.

Glassman built up the "engagement arm" of President Bush's presidential library and museum in Dallas over the past four years and has served as a visting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute for the past decade.

Former Quinn Gillespie and Associates senior exec Rick Shapiro is president of of PAE, which handles PR, crisis and strategic counsel and similar services. Communications strategist and former chief of staff to Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.)  is senior VP. Glassman takes up a chairman/CEO role.

A former chairman of the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors, Glassman was publisher of the New Republic, president of the Atlantic Monthly, EVP at U.S. News & World Report and editor of Roll Call.

Glassman penned a column for the Washington Post for 11 years and is a prolific writer and speaker.