• Fred Humphries, Meridian Development Committee Co-Chair, Corporate Vice President of U.S. Government Affairs for Microsoft, former Microsoft Director of State Governmental Affairs, and former Vice President and Executive Director of Public Policy for Qwest.

Fred Humphries is Corporate Vice President of U.S Government Affairs (USGA) at Microsoft. Under his leadership, USGA provides policy and regulatory expertise, political engagement, and outreach that advances the company’s advocacy goals.  Humphries is Microsoft’s chief public policy advocate, internally and externally, on all aspects of federal, state and civic affairs. He communicates with policymakers on Microsoft’s leadership in fostering economic and job opportunities in the U.S.

Humphries also oversees the Microsoft team responsible for engagement with the United Nations and International Organizations (UNIO), and he chairs the company’s Global Government Affairs Council, responsible for reviewing strategies and initiatives for Microsoft’s government affairs work worldwide.

As part of his stewardship of a broad, multilateral team, Humphries sets the company’s government engagement strategy on the most pressing policy issues facing the technology industry to earn trust and adapt to regulation, enable inclusive economic growth, and use technology to solve big societal problems.  This includes artificial intelligence, cloud computing, privacy, trade, cybersecurity, education, racial equity, immigration, and emerging technologies.

Humphries first joined Microsoft in 2000 as Director of State Governmental Affairs, building a team responsible for outreach to our nation’s governors, mayors, and local elected officials in every state capital. In that position, Humphries integrated on-the-ground state advocacy work into Microsoft’s overall corporate strategy, in coordination with the public sector, policy and lobbying teams. He was promoted to Microsoft’s Managing Director of U.S. Government Affairs in 2009 and Corporate Vice President in 2015.

Humphries received a J.D. from Temple University School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science from Morehouse College.

He proudly serves on the boards of numerous non-profit and public service organizations including Morehouse College Board of Trustees, Temple University Beasley School of Law Board of Visitors, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the Greater Washington Goodwill, Bryce Harlow Foundation, International Foundation for Electoral Systems, The Mission Continues, Policing Project Advisory Board, 1890 Presidents Advisory Board Council, John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, and the Sibley Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees.

Humphries resides in Washington, D.C. with his wife Kim. They have two adult children.