Mike Graff is former chairman and CEO of American Air Liquide, Director General (Adj.) and executive vice president of Air Liquide Group where he led the Americas, Asia, Global Electronics and Global Engineering/Construction division. A highly accomplished c-suite executive in industrial gas, advanced materials, chemicals, polymers, refining and energy industries, Graff began his career with Amoco Corporation and then bp.

Graff is a nonresident fellow at the Baker Institute’s Center for Energy Studies (CES) at Rice University and serves on the Senior Director’s Council. He is a director of Westlake Corporation, Vice-Chairman of the Illinois Institute of Technology Board of Trustees and the American Institute of Chemicals Engineers Foundation. At Purdue University, he is a member of the President’s CEO Council and Board of the College of Engineering. Graff is also a trustee of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and School of Government, and senior cabinet member of the President’s Leadership Council for Houston Methodist Hospital.

Previously, Graff has served on several industry and civic organization boards, including Officer of the American Chemistry Council, Co-Chair of the Investment Advisory Council for the U.S. Department of Commerce, principal of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s American Energy Innovation Council, Board and Executive Committee of the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Petroleum Council. In various capacities, he has testified before Congress on U.S. energy policy, competitiveness and workforce development, and advised on tax and security
issues.

Graff holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology and Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University; he has been recognized by both for professional achievement and as a distinguished alumnus. He completed advanced studies at the University of Chicago, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Cambridge, and Stanford University Law School.

Graff is a champion for children and strong advocate for STEM education, literacy and youth athletics.