Joel M. Widder

Partner

Mr. Joel M. Widder joined Oldaker, Belair and Wittie in October 2008. For the previous six years, he was with Lewis-Burke Associates LLC where he represented a premier climate and weather research organization, a number of ocean and coastal research associations, a major public television enterprise, and assisted in the representation of a number of major research universities including the University of Illinois, Caltech, the University of Southern California, and Rutgers University. From 1982 to 2002, Mr. Widder was at the National Science Foundation where he last served as the Acting Director and then Deputy Director for the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs. In this capacity, his responsibilities included working directly with the NSF Director and the members of the National Science Board in their relations with the Office of Management and Budget, the White House Science Advisor’s office, the Congress and the external science and engineering community; as well as the development and execution of the Foundation’s participation in the Congressional budget process and legislative oversight process. Before leaving NSF, Mr. Widder also served for two years on detail to the former Senate Veterans, Housing and Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee where he had responsibility for issues related to research and education including space and environmental sciences. Mr. Widder has extensive experience working with institutions of higher education as well as a variety research and education concerns where he has effectively advocated for the development and support of research grant programs, specific major research projects, and associated science and technology policy issues before the Congress and the relevant federal agencies.

Education

University of Maryland, B.S.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Contact

(202) 496-3482
jwidder@oldakergroup.com