Prior to joining OPM, Blair served on Capitol Hill, having worked for nearly 17 years on the staffs of both House and Senate committees charged with postal and civil Service oversight. From 1998 through 2001, Blair served as Senior Counsel to Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) on the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs. Blair was responsible for review of legislation and policy affecting the federal civil Service, the USPS, federal budget process, government ethics, and federal lobbying reform. Prior to joining the Committee on Governmental Affairs, Blair served as Staff Director for the House of Representatives Subcommittee on the Postal Service. Blair was responsible for directing the Subcommittee's oversight of the USPS and directed the development of comprehensive postal reform legislation. Blair also served as Minority General Counsel for the House of Representatives Committee on Post Office and Civil Service from 1985 to 1994.