Robert Larkin Doar is an American businessman, writer, and former public administrator serving as the president of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a prominent conservative think tank, a position he has held since 2021. Born in Washington, D.C., Doar is the son of John Doar, a renowned civil rights lawyer and former Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, who played a key role in the American civil rights movement, and Anne Doar. Doar's professional focus has centered on federal and state antipoverty policies, safety net programs, and social welfare reform. Before assuming leadership at AEI, he served as the 30th Commissioner of the New York City Human Resources Administration from 2002 to 2013 under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, overseeing social services for the city's low-income residents. Prior to that, he was Commissioner of Social Services for the State of New York, where he contributed to making the state a model for welfare reform implementation in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His career also includes roles in nonprofit administration, policy analysis, and writing on issues related to poverty and public assistance. At AEI, he directs research and commentary aimed at evaluating and improving government programs designed to combat poverty, often advocating for work-based approaches and critiquing overly expansive welfare systems. His background in government service has informed his perspective on the practical challenges of administering social programs at both state and local levels.