About R. Drummond
R. Drummond Black educated as a physicist before turning to regulation. He earned a B.S. in Physics from Purdue University in 1964, and completed his J.D. on the University of Michigan Law School in 1971. The shift from science to regulation informed a methodical strategy to problem fixing that has appeared repeatedly over an extended career.
Black has been licensed to practice in Michigan and has authority to seem before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. His public service runs alongside his legal work. He served as mayor of the City of Midland from 1996 to 2005. During part of that period he additionally served as a commissioner for MBS International Airport from 2001 to 2003. He has been involved within the Midland Rotary Club in leadership roles since 2009.
Those civic roles formed much of his expert life. As mayor he labored on municipal matters that required coordination between local government, private stakeholders and regional agencies. On the airport commission he participated in oversight and making plans for a facility that serves several Michigan groups. The positions gave him direct knowledge in public policy, regulatory matters and intergovernmental negotiation.
In personal practice, Black has treated a variety of matters tied to nearby government, administrative procedure and civil disputes. He has additionally taken instances to the federal appellate level. Colleagues describe him as practical in court and persistent in litigation. He combines court work with advisory roles for municipal clients and different organizations that interact with government regulators.
Outside of law and public workplace, Black’s background in the sciences has influenced how he approaches complex issues. He tends to interrupt problems into discrete additives and follows proof thru to realistic outcomes. He stays active in network affairs through the Rotary Club and other nearby engagements. He continues to keep a lively practice in Michigan and before the Sixth Circuit, handling matters that include local government law and civil legal proceedings.
