Shirley Bloomfield became NTCA's chief executive officer on July 1, 2010. Bloomfield brings her strength as an advocate for rural telecommunications and a unique combination of rural telecom knowledge, expertise in building alliances and management capabilities to the position.

With 23 years in telecommunications, Bloomfield began her career on Capitol Hill as a staff aide to Congressman David Obey. She went on to serve as a congressional aide on the House Budget Committee. She landed at NTCA as a lobbyist in 1986 and advanced her career leaving NTCA in 2007 as the vice president of government affairs and association services overseeing government affairs, membership, education, communications, meetings and the foundation. Bloomfield went on to expand the scope of her credentials by working for major telecommunications companies including serving as senior vice president of federal relations for Qwest and vice president of federal relations for Verizon.

Bloomfield received her master's degree in public administration from American University and her Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and urban studies from Northwestern University.

She currently serves as a board member of GlobalWin, an organization of women leaders in the high-tech industry.