Mr. Robert D. Eidsmoe is the Deputy Director, Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO), Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. He is the principle advisor to the Director and senior staff on matters concerning the welfare, effective utilization, training, career progression and organizational performance for a diverse team of acquisition and support personnel. In this position, he serves as a senior advisor for the Chief of Staff, two Senior Materiel Leaders, the Director of Contracting, Director of Finance, Director of Management Operations, and two Materiel Leaders. Additionally, in this capacity, he advises the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Space Operations for the development and fielding of classified critical space capabilities. He leads a diverse team in the development and delivery of Acquisition Category- I, II and III equivalent programs that provide operationally dominant Space Capabilities to strategically enhance the Nation’s warfighting capabilities and dominance in the Space domain.
Mr. Eidsmoe was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy in 1985 through the Aviation Officers Candidate School at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida. He earned his wings at NAS Whiting Field, Florida in 1986. His initial assignment was to the Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Fourteen in San Diego, California. He deployed twice to the Western Pacific/Indian Ocean onboard the USS Ranger (CV-61). Over the course of his sea duty, he deployed aboard the USS Midway (CV-41), USS Independence (CV-62), and USS George Washington (CVN-73). He has deployed in support of Operation Ernest Will, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, and Enduring Freedom. His staff assignments include duty as the Assistant Air Operations Officer at Attack Carrier Strike Force Seventh Fleet (CTF-70), Yokosuka, Japan; and the Deputy Director OPNAV Support Services (N09B) at The Pentagon. The past seventeen years, his career focus has been on C4ISR systems that enhance Depart of Defense’s predictive battlespace awareness capabilities.
Mr. Eidsmoe’s career spans over 35 years supporting United States Navy, United States Air Force and United States Space Force objectives, in both a military and civilian capacity.
EDUCATION
1984 Bachelor of Science, Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham
2000 Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2005 Senior Executive Fellow, JFK School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. May 1986 – December 1986, Student Undergraduate Pilot training, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, and NAS Whiting Field, Fla.
2.January 1987 – December 1989, Aircraft Commander, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Fourteen, NAS North Island Calif.
3. December 1989 – January 1991, Aircraft Commander, Flight Instructor, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron One, NAS Jacksonville, Fla.
4. January 1991 – July 1993, Deputy Air Operations Officer, CTF-70, USS Midway (CV-41); Yokosuka Japan
5. July 1993 – July 1995, Deputy Director, OPNAV Support Services, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
6. June 1995 – February 1999, Aircraft Commander, Maintenance Officer, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Eleven, NAS Jacksonville, Fla.
7. March 1999 – June 2000, Student, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
8. October 1999 – June 2000, Associate Fellow, CNO Strategic Studies Group XIX, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
9. June 2000 – July 2003, J5 Liaison Division, Joint Special Operations Command, Ft Bragg, N.C.
10. January 2018 – June 2020, Deputy Director/Director of Plans and Analysis, DAF RCO-Field Support Unit, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
11. January 2018 – June 2020, Deputy Director/Director of Plans and Analysis, DAF RCO-Field Support Unit, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
12. July 2020 – Present, Deputy Director, Space Rapid Capabilities Office, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Helicopter Aircraft Commander Flight Hours: More than 3,500
Aircraft flown: T-34C, TH-57A/B/C, HH-3A, SH-3D/G/H, SH-60F, HH-60H
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards)
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2 awards)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
NATO Medal (Yugoslavia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal
Sikorsky Rescue “S” (2 awards) Southwest Asia Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (5 awards)
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Ribbon
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award Navy Unit Citation Meritorious Unit Citation
Navy Battle “E” Ribbon (2 awards)
National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation (2 awards)
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
(Current as of July 2020)