Leadership

Bay Fang, President

As President, Bay provides Radio Free Asia with leadership, vision, and mission-based strategic and operational direction. She first came to RFA as Managing Director for East Asia, overseeing the management and editorial content of RFA’s five East Asian language services. She went on to become RFA’s Executive Editor, supervising coverage across all of Asia. Prior to RFA, she began her 20-plus year career in journalism as the Beijing Bureau Chief for US News and World Report, where she won the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for her story "China's Stolen Wives." She went on to cover the wars in Afghanistan (2001-2002) and Iraq (2003-2004) for US News, and then became the Diplomatic Correspondent for the Chicago Tribune. Also before coming to RFA, Bay previously served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, overseeing public diplomacy and public affairs for Europe and Eurasia. Bay earned her undergraduate degree at Harvard University and was a visiting fellow at Oxford University and a Fulbright scholar in Hong Kong. She trained as a French chef at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and holds a brown belt in kung fu.

Rosa Hwang, Executive Editor

As Executive Editor, Rosa oversees RFA’s editorial division, including news production and strategy. Prior to joining RFA in October 2024, Hwang worked from 2011-2023 at CTV News, a division of CTV - Canada’s largest private broadcaster - where she held key roles including executive producer and senior producer of National News and Network Specials. During her 12-year tenure she oversaw the production of Canada’s most-watched national newscast, maintaining its position in a competitive field. She promoted a transformational ‘digital first’ strategy within the national newsroom, leading a team that included all foreign and national correspondents, producers and writers. Hwang began her career at CBC News where she held a number of editorial positions in Calgary, Toronto and Washington. In 2005, she was among the first international journalists allowed access to the U.S. detention camps at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She earned her Bachelor of Applied Communications in Journalism at Mount Royal University in Calgary, and her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Calgary

Rohit Mahajan, Chief Communications Officer

As Chief Communications Officer, Rohit leads media and Congressional relations, while overseeing messaging, branding, public speaking events, and internal and public-facing corporate communications. During his 10+ year tenure at RFA, Rohit has served in progressive communications roles and was an early strategic advisor to the Open Technology Fund, a digital freedom funder incubated at the company before becoming its own private entity. He has been interviewed by and quoted in the Wall Street Journal, BBC, Washington Post, CNN, and Reuters, among other outlets. He has also served as Acting Secretary to RFA’s Board of Directors. Prior to joining RFA, Rohit spent five years on Capitol Hill, working in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. He most recently served as a Press Secretary for a Subcommittee Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. During his tenure, Rohit focused on advancing members’ legislative priorities in the media on foreign policy, food security, technology, and climate issues. Rohit began his career in newspapers, writing for and editing sections of an award-winning community newspaper chain in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. He has a Master of Arts degree in English from Northern Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Beloit College. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his family.

Deborah Chamberlin, Chief People Officer

As Chief People Officer, Deborah Chamberlin oversees the organization’s Human Resources department, which supports the overall strategic direction of the organization, as well as operations and initiatives that support employees in the areas of talent management and acquisition, relations, benefits, compensation and compliance. Prior to joining RFA in April 2023, Deborah served as Director of Talent Acquisition at FHI 360 where she managed a team responsible for full cycle recruiting for over 500 US-based and international positions annually. Among other previous roles, Deborah held senior-level positions at international nonprofits including SRI Executive Search & Strategy, Management Sciences for Health and Development Alternatives, Inc. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at the University of Washington.

John Penovich, Chief Technology Officer

As Chief Technology Officer, John Penovich leads RFA’s Technical Operations Division. He is responsible for directing and implementing the organization’s technology strategy in partnership with RFA’s senior management to advance RFA’s journalistic mission.  During his 25-year tenure with RFA, John has provided innovative broadcast audio, video, and digital solutions to RFA’s technology and engineering needs both in Washington, DC and internationally.   Prior to becoming CTO in 2020, John spearheaded RFA’s overseas bureau technical operations and expansion in Dharamsala, India, led and completed Axia audio over IP console system installs in Asia, including Bangkok (the very first Axia system in Asia), Seoul, and Hong Kong, and led and completed RFA technical studio and office relocations in Seoul, Bangkok and Taipei. John works closely with the USAGM, and has worked with industry leaders such as the Telos Alliance to provide studio solutions to U.S. broadcasters including WETA, NPR, WAMU Washington DC (88.5FM), WCBS NYC (101.1FM), Newseum Washington DC, and Sirius Radio NYC.  John is an active member of the  Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) and long-time supporter of the Strathmore Artist in Residence program. He is also an active musician, engineer, and producer in the D.C. music scene with three WAMMIE nominations and one win. John earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Sociology from Vanderbilt University. He is a native Washingtonian and resides in Silver Spring with his family.