Robert O. Work

Robert O. Work
US Department of Defense · Public domain · source
Name	Robert O. Work
Birth date	1948
Birth place	South Bend, Indiana, United States
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Rank	Lieutenant Commander (United States) (ret.)
Battles	Operation Desert Storm
Awards	Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal

Robert O. Work is a retired United States Navy officer, defense official, and policy strategist who served as the 32nd United States Deputy Secretary of Defense and as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. He is notable for advocating for innovation in United States Department of Defense acquisition, promoting artificial intelligence and autonomy in defense systems, and shaping concept development for the United States military during the early 21st century.

Early life and education

Born in South Bend, Indiana, Work attended Pennsylvania State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree before commissioning into the United States Navy. He later completed a Master of Arts at Georgetown University and a Master of Arts in Foreign Affairs at Catholic University of America. Work is a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College and attended programs at the Harvard Kennedy School and the MIT Seminar XXI.

Military career

Work served as a naval officer and naval aviator with operational tours aboard aircraft carriers and with Carrier Air Wing units, deploying to theaters including the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. He held assignments with Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing and staff roles in United States Pacific Command and United States Central Command. His staff experience included positions within the Office of the Secretary of Defense and tasking related to force structure, readiness, and capability requirements. Work retired from active duty with the rank of Lieutenant Commander (United States).

Government service and policy roles

Following active duty, Work served in a series of Pentagon policy and acquisition roles, including senior posts in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and as Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. He was confirmed as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations and later served as United States Deputy Secretary of Defense under President Barack Obama from 2014 to 2017. In those capacities he worked on initiatives addressing defense acquisition reform, ballistic missile defense, and modernization efforts for the United States Navy and United States Air Force. Work championed the Third Offset Strategy and supported investments in network-centric warfare, cybersecurity, space operations, unmanned aerial vehicles, and hypersonic weapons development. He engaged with partners at the National Security Council, the Defense Innovation Unit, and the Office of Net Assessment to integrate emerging technologies into strategic planning and capability development.

Post-government career and private sector work

After leaving federal service, Work joined the Center for a New American Security as a senior fellow and later became a private sector adviser, working with defense firms, think tanks, and venture capital groups focused on defense innovation. He served on advisory boards for entities such as the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, National Defense University affiliates, and corporate boards advising on acquisition and technology integration. Work has been associated with consultancies and start-ups in Silicon Valley and collaborated with academic centers at Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Johns Hopkins University to bridge defense requirements with artificial intelligence research and commercialization. He has testified before the United States Congress on modernization, budget priorities, and readiness, and has been a speaker at forums including the Aspen Security Forum, Munich Security Conference, and Reagan National Defense Forum.

Honors and publications

Work's decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, and Legion of Merit. He has authored and coauthored reports, white papers, and articles on topics such as the Third Offset Strategy, autonomy in defense systems, and defense acquisition reform published through institutions including the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Brookings Institution, and the Bipartisan Policy Center. Notable publications and pieces include analyses in Foreign Affairs, The Washington Post, and monographs commissioned by the United States Department of Defense. He has been recognized by professional societies and received awards from organizations in the defense industry and the academic community for contributions to defense policy and innovation.

Category:1948 births Category:Living people Category:United States Navy officers Category:United States Deputy Secretaries of Defense