Geoffrey Blackwell

Geoffrey Blackwell identifies strategic business opportunities for Chickasaw Nation Industries' multiple operations, which include manufacturing, communications infrastructure, and IT, medical, aviation, and logistics services. He has managed federal contracts and represented CNI in the energy, defense, and technology industries. His responsibilities emphasize integration of emerging technologies. From 2000 to 2005, Blackwell was a senior attorney and the liaison to tribal governments for the Federal Communications Commission. He coordinated FCC tribal outreach and provided counsel on tribal matters involving telephony and broadcast services, including rulemakings, adjudicatory proceedings, and enforcement actions. Blackwell is an advocate and recognized expert on tribal economic development and communications policy. He chairs the Telecommunications Subcommittee of the National Congress of American Indians. He serves on the National Small Business Association board of trustees, and the advisory council of Native Public Media, a National Federation of Community Broadcasters project. He represented tribes at the 2005 United Nations' World Summit on the Information Society. In 2007, Blackwell provided congressional testimony on the future of tribal public radio and broadcast media. Blackwell is of Muscogee (Creek), Omaha, Choctaw and Chickasaw heritage. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia School of Law.