Michael Blumenfeld
Encyclopedia
Michael Blumenfeld is an American executive who served as United States
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
from 1979 to 1981.
on November 10, 1934. He served in the artillery
of the United States Army
from 1953 to 1956. He was educated at Harvard College
, graduating with a B.A.
in 1958. He then attended Harvard Business School
, receiving an M.B.A. in 1960.
Upon graduation from business school, Blumenfeld took a job with Benton & Bowles
, a New York
advertising agency
, as an account executive. He worked at Benton & Bowles until 1967, becoming vice president and account supervisor. The accounts he managed included Zest, Gravy Train
, Benson & Hedges
, and The U.S. Committee for UNICEF
.
In 1967, Blumenfeld joined the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
as Director of Public Affairs and Education.
He returned to the private sector in 1969, becoming assistant to the vice president, public affairs of Consolidated Edison
.
The next year, however, he joined the administration of New York Mayor
John Lindsay
as Deputy Health Services Administrator of New York City
. From 1973 to 1977, he was the director of public affairs of New York University
.
In March 1977, President of the United States
Jimmy Carter
appointed Blumenfeld as Deputy Under Secretary of the Army. In this capacity, he oversaw the work of the United States Army Corps of Engineers
. His major activities as Deputy Under Secretary were facilitating dialogue with environmental groups about the Army's engineering activities, and coordinating the Army's proposal for a non-Federal dam
system. In January 1979, President Carter nominated Blumenfeld as Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
and he subsequently held this office from April 1979 to January 1981.
Since leaving the United States Department of the Army
, Blumenfeld worked as an executive at Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield
of New York
and for the Kansas Power and Light Company in Topeka, Kansas
.
In 1999, Blumenfeld and his wife Cathy retired to Lawrence, Kansas
. In retirement, he has taught Western Civilization at the University of Kansas
as a member of their Honors Faculty.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
The Assistant Secretary of the Army , abbreviated ASA, is an office of the United States Department of the Army responsible for overseeing the civil functions of the United States Army...
from 1979 to 1981.
Biography
Michael Blumenfeld was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
on November 10, 1934. He served in the artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1953 to 1956. He was educated at Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, graduating with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1958. He then attended Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
, receiving an M.B.A. in 1960.
Upon graduation from business school, Blumenfeld took a job with Benton & Bowles
Benton & Bowles
Benton & Bowles was a New York-based advertising agency founded by William Benton and Chester Bowles in 1929.-History:The agency's success was closely related to the rise in popularity of radio. Benton & Bowles invented the radio soap opera to promote their clients' products, and by 1936 were...
, a New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
advertising agency
Advertising agency
An advertising agency or ad agency is a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients. An ad agency is independent from the client and provides an outside point of view to the effort of selling the client's products or services...
, as an account executive. He worked at Benton & Bowles until 1967, becoming vice president and account supervisor. The accounts he managed included Zest, Gravy Train
Gravy Train (dog food)
Gravy Train is an American commercial dog food. Originally developed by General Foods, it was the first brand of dog food to have the feature when warm water is added to the dry kibble, a brown gravy forms when mixed with the kibble's powder coating...
, Benson & Hedges
Benson & Hedges
Benson & Hedges is a British brand of cigarettes owned by the Gallaher Group, which became a subsidiary of Japan Tobacco in 2007. They are registered in Old Bond Street in London, and are manufactured in Lisnafillen, Ballymena, Northern Ireland for the UK and Irish markets.-History:Benson & Hedges...
, and The U.S. Committee for UNICEF
U.S. Fund for UNICEF
The United States Fund for UNICEF is the United States non-profit non-governmental organization that supports the United Nations Children's Fund . Founded in 1947 by Helenka Pantaleoni, it is the oldest of the 36 UNICEF National Committees that support UNICEF worldwide through fundraising,...
.
In 1967, Blumenfeld joined the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is an independent federal law enforcement agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints based on an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, perceived intelligence,...
as Director of Public Affairs and Education.
He returned to the private sector in 1969, becoming assistant to the vice president, public affairs of Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison, Inc. is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the United States, with approximately $14 billion in annual revenues and $36 billion in assets...
.
The next year, however, he joined the administration of New York Mayor
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
John Lindsay
John Lindsay
John Vliet Lindsay was an American politician, lawyer and broadcaster who was a U.S. Congressman, Mayor of New York City, candidate for U.S...
as Deputy Health Services Administrator of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. From 1973 to 1977, he was the director of public affairs of New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
In March 1977, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
appointed Blumenfeld as Deputy Under Secretary of the Army. In this capacity, he oversaw the work of the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
. His major activities as Deputy Under Secretary were facilitating dialogue with environmental groups about the Army's engineering activities, and coordinating the Army's proposal for a non-Federal dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
system. In January 1979, President Carter nominated Blumenfeld as Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
The Assistant Secretary of the Army , abbreviated ASA, is an office of the United States Department of the Army responsible for overseeing the civil functions of the United States Army...
and he subsequently held this office from April 1979 to January 1981.
Since leaving the United States Department of the Army
United States Department of the Army
The Department of the Army is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Department of the Army is the Federal Government agency which the United States Army is organized within, and it is led by the Secretary of the Army who has...
, Blumenfeld worked as an executive at Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a federation of 39 separate health insurance organizations and companies in the United States. Combined, they directly or indirectly provide health insurance to over 100 million Americans. The history of Blue Cross dates back to 1929, while the history of...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and for the Kansas Power and Light Company in Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
.
In 1999, Blumenfeld and his wife Cathy retired to Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
. In retirement, he has taught Western Civilization at the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
as a member of their Honors Faculty.