In 2015, he retired from the Marine Corps at the rank of Colonel, with 24 years of service and three combat tours to Afghanistan, including participating in Operation Enduring Freedom after the September 11th, 2001 attacks on New York. He has also served at the Pentagon as a military strategist and in numerous command and staff positions around the world. Before election, Robert was the Executive Director of the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District, a New York State Public Benefit Corporation.

In 2003, Robert was appointed by President George W. Bush as a White House Fellow, serving at the United States Department of Energy in the Office of the Secretary of Energy. He has a B.A. in History from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, an M.A. from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and an M.S. in Resource Management from The Eisenhower School, where he is a distinguished graduate of National Defense University.

Robert is also a proud member of the American Legion and Marine Corps League.

A lifelong resident of upstate New York, Robert lives on Matilda Hill Farm in the Town of Johnstown in Meco. He and his wife, Megan, have four children.