Robert Blair is corporate vice president and Chief Global Policy Officer at Applied Materials, where he leads the company’s global government relations, public policy, and regulatory strategy. His responsibilities span export controls, trade policy, and engagement with governments and multilateral institutions on issues shaping the semiconductor industry.
Before joining Applied, Robert held senior roles across the U.S. government and private sector. At the White House, he served as a senior advisor supporting presidential decision-making on foreign policy, national security, and technology competition. At the Department of Commerce, he contributed to the development of the export control framework for U.S.–China technology competition. As an Associate Director at the Office of Management and Budget, he managed national security budgets. Earlier in his career, he spent fourteen years on the staff of the House Appropriations Committee directing defense, intelligence, and energy funding and oversight.
In the private sector, Robert led government affairs for Microsoft’s national security business and served as a principal at WestExec Advisors, counseling companies on AI, quantum computing, semiconductor supply chains, and national security policy.
