Dr. Blair received his DVM from Texas A&M University and has more than 32 years experience in a wide range of activities at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service. These activities included: extensive in-plant inspection experience; Assistant to the Deputy Administrator in three major program areas: International Programs, Inspection Operations, and Scientific and Technical Services; Deputy Director of Scientific Support; Director of Federal-State Relations; Executive Assistant for Inspection Operations; and National Animal Disease Correlator for red meat animals.

In 1996, he participated as part of the International Meat and Poultry HACCP Alliance (IMPHA) as a workshop facilitator to develop generic models for FSIS. Dr. Blair is accredited by IMPHA and is a Lead Instructor for HACCP training courses put on for meat and poultry industry members. He is accredited as an instructor by the International Seafood HACCP Alliance and the Association of Food and Drug Officials. Dr. Blair has conducted Alliance based seafood HACCP training in Malaysia and Sri Lanka involving participants from more than 23 countries. He recently conducted a six day basic food safety course, including introductory HACCP, for Sri Lankan food processors. The participants were from companies processing a wide variety of items including: meat; poultry; seafood; dairy products; canned fruits; juices; jams and chutneys; pasta; dried fruits and coconut; and miscellaneous other products.

Dr. Blair recently updated and revised the FSIS Sanitation Handbook (that he originally developed as a USDA employee) to incorporate HACCP principles. He participated as a facilitator in the HACCP Round Table sponsored by FSIS. He is currently the Executive Vice President of the American Association of Food Hygiene Veterinarians, a position he has occupied since 1988. He is a member of the House of Delegates of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and represented the public and corporate practice sector of the AVMA on its Veterinary Medical Informatics Committee. Dr. Blair received the 1995 President's Award from the American Association of Food Hygiene Veterinarians for his role in bringing recognition to the importance of the contributions made by veterinarians and veterinary medicine to food safety. He is also immediate past Chairman of the Committee on Food Safety of the U.S. Animal Health Association.