After an extraordinary career that spanned continents, countries, sectors and decades of service, Blair Stephenson will retire this year as Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance, Operations and Administration. His path to this moment is a story not just of professional achievement, but of passion, mentorship, resilience and a heart deeply committed to service. 

A career built on service and people 

Blair’s journey into resource management wasn’t something he planned. In fact, as a young man, he dreamed of being a landscape architect. But life had other ideas. A Navy ROTC scholarship drifted him into military service, where his love and aptitude for numbers soon pointed him toward finance. After earning a master’s degree in finance and later attending the Naval War College earning a master’s in national security and strategic studies, Blair developed a talent for seeing not just inside the box, but defining it — and then finding solutions outside of it. 

Across his 20-year military career, Blair specialized in human resources and finance, holding leadership roles that placed him in high-stakes environments, from Navy recruiting to leading major budget negotiations in Washington, D.C. It was during these years — often working 100-hour weeks under immense political pressure — that Blair built the resilience, strategic thinking and leadership style that would carry him through the rest of his career. 

“As a leader, I’ve always thought of myself first and foremost as a teacher, developing others,” Blair reflects. “My job has always been to provide people the resources they need to be successful — to help them grow both personally and professionally.” 

The values that endure 

At the core of Blair’s leadership philosophy are values he learned early in the Navy: honor, courage and commitment. But he carried more with him: humility, empathy, and above all, respect. 

Those values shaped his leadership style — one that built cultures of trust and collaboration wherever he worked. He fostered teams where people felt safe, supported and empowered to succeed. “When you build trust,” he says, “you unlock respect, loyalty, collaboration and confidence.” 

Throughout every chapter of his career — from military service to UC Davis — Blair’s proudest moments weren’t about personal accolades. They were about providing the highest level of customer service while taking care of people: mentoring others, seeing careers blossom, and making a difference in the lives of those he served. 

“It’s the sailors. It’s the students. It’s the staff. It’s the people who are the real benefactors of the work I’ve done.” 

UC Davis: A place that felt like home 

When Blair arrived at UC Davis, he knew immediately that this campus was different. 

“Davis takes care of its people first,” he says. “At other places, it was mission first — but often at the expense of their people. But here, there’s a genuine culture of respect and empathy.” 

That culture resonated with Blair’s own values, and he contributed to it in ways large and small — always striving to make the university a better place, one initiative, one project and one person at a time.

During his tenure, Blair helped elevate resource management across FOA units, brought strategic leadership to critical projects, and mentored a new generation of university leaders. 

Lessons for the next generation 

If Blair could leave one piece of advice for emerging leaders, it would be simple but profound: “Be humble.” And not just humble in words — but humble in listening, in learning and in helping others identify both their strengths and areas for growth. 

“Success isn’t about being the smartest person in the room,” he says. “It’s about building people up — helping them reach their potential, whatever that looks like for them.” 

A new chapter, and reflections on the journey 

In retirement, Blair looks forward to a different pace of life — one less about meetings and budgets and more about reflection, family and new adventures. Though often seen as a natural extrovert and people person, he jokes that these days he prefers a quiet evening at home to a crowded event, though he’s still happy to share a drink with friends. 

And if you ask him how he sums up his career? He smiles and says simply: “Loyalty, dedication and service.” Three words that, for those who know him, couldn’t be more true. 

As Blair retires, he leaves behind a legacy measured not just by achievements, but by the people he touched, the leaders he grew, and the culture he helped nurture at the Navy, at UC San Diego and finally, at UC Davis. It’s a legacy of quiet strength, deep kindness and lasting impact — and one that will be felt here for many years to come.