Department of the United States Air Force LogoBiography
                  United States Air ForceC.Robert Kehler CAPSTONE
            ROBERT KEHLERGen. C. Robert Kehler, USAF, Ret., is a senior fellow for the National Defense University in support of the Pinnacle, Capstone and Keystone programs.

General Kehler served as the Commander, United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, from January 2011 until November 2013.

As the Commander of United States Strategic Command, General Kehler was directly responsible to the Secretary of Defense and President for the plans and operations of all U. S. forces conducting global strategic deterrence, nuclear alert, global strike, space, cyberspace and associated operations. While in command, he crafted and implemented critical elements of policies and plans to deter strategic attacks against the United States and its key allies, and led a joint team of over 60,000 military and civilians to 100 percent mission success in multiple, high-stakes global operations. He also integrated Department of Defense activities for global missile defense, combating weapons of mass destruction, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. His forces directly supported combat operations in Southwest Asia and North Africa.

General Kehler’s military career spanned almost thirty-nine years of service that included progressively important operational and staff assignments. He was one of a very few officers to command at the squadron, group, wing, major command and combatant command levels, and he had a broad range of operational experience in Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, space launch, space control, space surveillance and missile warning units. Before taking command of USSTRATCOM, General Kehler commanded Air Force Space Command where he organized, trained and equipped over 46,000 professionals conducting mission-ready nuclear missile, space and cyberspace operations. In that role, he designed the Air Force’s inaugural blueprint, operating concept, organizational structure and personnel program to meet rapidly growing cyberspace challenges. Other command tours included the 508th Missile Squadron, 341st Operations Group, 30th Space Wing and 21st Space Wing. He also served as Deputy Commander, 351st Operations Group, Deputy Director of Operations, and as Deputy Commander of USSTRATCOM.

His staff assignments included tours with the Air Staff, Strategic Air Command, Air Force Space Command and the Joint Staff. He was also assigned to the Secretary of the Air Force’s Office of Legislative Liaison where he was the point man on Capitol Hill for matters regarding the President’s ICBM Modernization Program. As Director of the National Security Space Office, General Kehler integrated the activities of a number of DOD and Intelligence Community organizations on behalf of the Undersecretary of the Air Force and Director, National Reconnaissance Office.

He entered the Air Force in 1975 as a Distinguished Graduate of the Pennsylvania State University ROTC program, has master’s degrees from the University of Oklahoma in Public Administration and the Naval War College in National Security and Strategic Studies, and completed executive level programs at Carnegie-Mellon University, Syracuse University and Harvard University.

Retired from the Air Force in 2013,General Kehler’s active duty biographyis available on the Air Force website.Department of the Air Force Logo