Robert N. Geis Biography

Robert N. Geis was appointed Chesapeake Deputy City Manager on July 1, 2016. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from the University of California, San Diego as well as a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Security Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, RI. He has also completed a Department of Homeland Security Executive Leadership Program in Homeland Security as well as completing the Hampton Roads CIVIC Leadership Institute in 2013.

Prior to his civilian public service, Mr. Geis served as a Naval Officer for 29 years. He flew both the aircraft carrier-based S-3B Viking and the F/A-18F Super Hornet, commanding the VFA-211 Fighting Checkmates on the first east coast deployment of the Navy’s Super Hornet in 2006 and deploying on the aircraft carriers USS AMERICA, USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, USS CARL VINSON, USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, and USS ENTERPRISE during his career. Ashore, he worked on numerous staffs, including the United States Central Command immediately following 9/11/01 and deployed in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. He was selected to command Naval Air Station Oceana in 2010 and led the Navy’s response and recovery effort to the “Good Friday Miracle” F/A-18 mishap in Virginia Beach in April 2012 as well as spearheading the Memorandum of Understanding between the US Navy and the City of Chesapeake, a key land use tool that will protect both the mission of NALF Fentress and city residents from potential impacts of jet noise in 2013.

Mr. Geis was at the Washington Navy Yard when the tragic shooting occurred in September of 2013 assigned to Navy Installations Command. He was directed to lead the post-incident assessment of all ashore Navy security as well as implement those recommended improvements. He also led the Operations Directorate, a $1.2B program that included Security/Force Protection, Fire and Emergency Services, Air and Port Operations, Emergency Management and Public Safety. Mr. Geis’ final duty ashore was as Chief of Staff, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, the largest US Navy region, which included 14 installations and 48 Navy Operational Support Centers across 20 states.