Robert J. Portman

Former United States Senator and U.S. Trade Representative

Mr. Portman is a former United States Senator, having represented the State of Ohio from 2011 until his retirement in 2023. He previously served in cabinet-level positions in the executive branch, first as U.S. Trade Representative from 2005 to 2006 and then as Director of the Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") from 2006 to 2007. From 1993 to 2005, he served as a Congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. Portman, who holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan School of Law, began his career in private legal practice and later worked as Associate Counsel and then Director of Legislative Affairs under President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1991.

He currently serves as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow in the Practice of Public Policy at the American Enterprise Institute and is the Founder of the Portman Center for Policy Solutions within the University of Cincinnati’s School of Public and International Affairs, which focuses on fostering civility and bipartisanship among future public service leaders.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

With his legal experience and public service career that spanned three decades and four presidential administrations, including multiple terms in both houses of Congress, Mr. Portman brings deep and significant Government, Regulatory, and Public Policy expertise to the Board. As Director of the OMB, he oversaw development of the executive budget and administration of federal agency performance.

Through both his service on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and in his role as U.S. Trade Representative, Mr. Portman developed unique Global knowledge and expertise, particularly as it relates to international tax and trade policy, that benefits the Board as it oversees the Company’s operations in markets around the world. He is also recognized for his Leadership, Strategy, and Risk Management skills, having led bipartisan policymaking efforts across key issues like infrastructure, trade, energy, and workforce development and ultimately securing enactment of more than 200 bills across both Republican and Democratic administrations.

In addition, Mr. Portman has focused on critical Digital and Technology issues, founding the Senate’s Artificial Intelligence Caucus and advocating for improved cybersecurity practices, including co-authoring the bill that would become the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022. As a result, he brings meaningful insight and expertise on how technology, infrastructure, and cybersecurity intersect within government and private enterprise, further strengthening the Board’s oversight of this important area.