Robert Kiser

A native of Altoona, Pa., Capt. Kiser earned a Bachelor's degree in Oceanography from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982.

Capt. Kiser began his first tour in the Oceanographic Operations Department Of the Naval Oceanographic Office, participating in several surface and airborne oceanographic surveys. In 1984, he reported for duty as Executive Officer for Oceanographic Unit THREE, USNS H. H. Hess, conducting deep ocean survey operations in both the Atlantic and Pacific. He then served as Division Officer for the Atlantic Mobile Environment Teams in Norfolk, Va., and conducted tactical oceanographic support for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations in the Western Atlantic. In 1987, he reported aboard USS Nassau as the OA Division Officer, and during this tour qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer and made two Mediterranean deployments.

In 1989, Capt. Kiser reported as the Staff Oceanographer for the Fleet ASW Training Center in Norfolk. He returned to sea duty on the Staff of Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group Eight and was embarked in USS Saratoga and USS Eisenhower before his departure. He also participated in counter-[...] deployments to the Caribbean with the Joint Task Force FOUR and conducted Maritime Interdiction Operations with Joint Task Force 120, coordinating Haitian stabilization forces during Operation Support Democracy. In addition to the Staff Oceanographer position, Capt. Kiser also held the positions of the Battlegroup Navigator, Scheduler and Battle Watch Captain.

Capt. Kiser attended the Naval Postgraduate School and earned a Master of Science in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography in 1996. He next reported for duty as the Fleet Joint METOC Operations and Services Division Head for Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (CNMOC), at Stennis Space Center, Miss. Following his headquarters tour, he was assigned as the Fleet Oceanographer for Sixth Fleet, embarked in USS LaSalle, forward deployed to the Mediterranean Sea.

In his next assignment as Commanding Officer of the Naval METOC Professional Development Center, Gulfport, Miss., he coordinated METOC education for the Navy/Marine Corps and initiated the METOC Sea Warrior program. At CNMOC, Capt. Kiser served as Director of Oceanographic Operations for Mine Warfare through January 2007, then assumed duties as Deputy Commander of the Naval Oceanographic Operations Command and re-established the CNMOC Operations, Plans, and Ocean Policy Department.

Current Duties

Capt. Kiser assumed command of Naval Oceanographic Operations Command on June 1, 2007. He is currently serving both as Commanding Officer of Naval Oceanographic Operations Command and Department Head for the CNMOC Operations, Plans, and Ocean Policy Department.