Robert Gard

A somewhat recalcitrant cadet, Gard graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1950, followed by service in the 82d Airborne Division before commanding a separate 155 mm field artillery gun battery assigned to X Corps Artillery during the war in Korea.

He later served a three-year tour in Germany, where he was assigned as a general and contingency war planner in the Army’s European headquarters before commanding the only airborne artillery battalion in the theater. After graduating from the National War College in 1966, he served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for International Security Affairs and then as Military (executive) Assistant to secretaries McNamara and Clifford. From 1968 to ’69, he commanded the 9th Infantry Division Artillery in Vietnam before being appointed Division Chief of Staff.

In 1971, Gard was first member of his year group to be promoted to brigadier general. HIs initial flag assignment was as the Army’s first Director of Human Resources Development; his principal responsibility was to institute a drug program for the Army as a component of the President’s National Counter-Offensive against Drug Abuse. In 1973, he was promoted to Major General and commanded Fort Ord, California, which was a training center before he re-activated the 7th Infantry Division. He then commanded the Army’s Military Personnel Center before being promoted to serve as President of The National Defense University for almost five years, from 1977 to 1981, when he retired as the Army’s senior lieutenant general at age 53.

Gard immediately launched a 17-year post-military academic career, starting with a one-year appointment as a visiting professor of International Relations at the American University in Paris, France, followed by a five-year appointment as the Director of the John Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies Center in Bologna, Italy. He then assumed the presidency of the Monterey Institute of International Studies for 11 years.

He met and married his forever life partner, Janet Wall, in 1984 and they began years of international adventure and collaboration. After living in Italy and travelling extensively, they built a house in Pebble Beach, CA where they resided for almost 30 years. In recent years they moved to the East Coast with their last residence in Arlington, VA.

Beginning in 1998, Gard spent the next 17 years as a consultant on international security issues in Washington, DC., first with the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation and then with the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. He participated frequently in media programs, including the Lehrer Report, C-Span Washington Journal, Hardball, BBC, MSNBC, & CNN International, and was interviewed by numerous radio stations. He retired from full-time employment in 2015, after a combined military/civilian career of 65 years.

Gard’s academic credentials include an MPA (’56) and a PhD (’62), both from Harvard University; he was also awarded Harvard’s university-wide Charles Sumner prize for his doctoral dissertation. Other honors include the Global Citizen Award from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey (‘15); designation as Chairman Emeritus, Center for Arms Control & Non-Proliferation (’15) and President Emeritus, Monterey Institute of International Studies (’98).

He was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Silver Star; Legion of Merit, w/cluster; Distinguished Flying Cross; Bronze Star, V, with three clusters; Meritorious Service Medal; and Air medal, V, with 12 clusters.

Robert Gard is survived by his cherished wife and life partner of 42 years, Janet Wall; two daughters, Linda Burchfiel and Susan Barstow; six grandchildren and almost 8 great grandchildren. He requests that memorial gifts be sent to the Center for Nonproliferation Studies/MIIS, Monterey, CA or the charity of your choice. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery which will be held at a later date.