Robert M. Tobias is a Fellow at the National Academy of Public Administration. He is a frequent contributor to Federal Times, Government Employees Relations Report, and Government Executive magazine on current federal sector public policy implementation issues. He is currently a Distinguished Practitioner in Residence in American University’s School of Public Affairs, Key Executive Leadership Program. He founded the Key Executive Leadership Program in 2002 that currently includes 1700 federal sector leaders.
Mr. Tobias was nominated by President Clinton and the Senate confirmed him for a five-year term as a member of the Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board. The Board has broad strategic and budget oversight responsibility for the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Tobias also consults with a number of private sector and government clients on a broad variety of issues including strategic planning, leadership development, alternative dispute resolution, interest-based problem solving, and training.
Prior to his work at American University, Mr. Tobias served for 31 years with the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) and from 1983-1999 as its President.
Mr. Tobias received his bachelor’s degree in pre-legal studies and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan. He graduated from the George Washington University Law School where he served as a professor on the adjunct faculty for 22 years.
Mr. Tobias resides in the District of Columbia with his wife Susan and has three adult children, Rachel, Christopher, and Lindsay, and three grandchildren, Sadie, Nolan, and Charlotte.
History of Employment
Position
Division
Organization
Start
End
Director
Key Executive Leadership Program
American University
2002
2014
Director
Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation
American University
2002
2014
National President
National Treasury Employees Union
1983
1999
Executive Vice President
National Treasury Employees Union
1979
1983
General Counsel. Former Member
National Treasury Employees Union
1970
1983
Distinguished Practitioner in Residence
Department of Public Administration and Policy
American University
1999
Member
IRS Oversight Board
2000
Primary Policy Areas
Government Operations/Innovation,
Labor/Workforce Training and RecruitmentLabor