[2][3] He served two years in the United States Army (1956–1958) and then worked as a manager of public relations for Wyandotte Chemical Company.

Due to his centrist views, Time Magazine also recognized Boehlert as a "power center" on Capitol Hill and Congressional Quarterly named him one of the 50 most effective Members of Congress.

Boehlert was a member of several national moderate GOP groups including the Republican Main Street Partnership and the Ripon Society.

As chairman he pushed for measures to increase cybersecurity research[13] and the creation of a Science and Technology Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security.

Boehlert was an active promoter of first responder legislation, a strong champion for volunteer firefighters[14] and original member and Chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.

These include the renovated Union Station in Utica and the new science facilities[15] of the Air Force Research Laboratory—Information Directorate in Rome, New York.

In addition, he was the third-ranking member of the Transportation Committee; from 1995 to 2000, he served as the chairman of its Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

He served on the Board of the bipartisan Alliance for Climate Protection chaired by former Vice President Al Gore.

[20] Boehlert died from complications of dementia at a hospice care facility in New Hartford, New York, on September 20, 2021, at age 84.