Robert William Andrews

Peacefully on December 2, 2022. "There ought to be a law against how eager we were that day!" Bob Andrews referencing a day, May 13, 1967 and his role as part of the 6th Special Forces Group helping prepare Israelis for what would become the Six Day War.

Fortunately, nothing diminished Bob's eagerness to serve, nor the intellect, energy and dedication that characterized that service for over 50 years. Inspired by the US Special Forces motto, "To Liberate the Oppressed" and shaped by his experience as a young special operations officer embedded in Vietnamese villages, Bob deeply understood the conduct of national security affairs, but also the consequences whether it be for a nation or a soldier.

Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1937, Bob was educated at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He majored in Chemical Engineering, received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army and went to serve as a Special Forces Green Beret in Vietnam, first from 1963-1965 and later from 1968-1969. After returning stateside, Bob had a tour teaching R.O.T.C while receiving a master's degree in Asian Studies later joining the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. In 1974 he moved to the Army Staff in Washington DC.

The ability to form and articulate policy while understanding, from firsthand experience, the realities of its implementation, underpinned Bob's multiple roles after leaving the Army including at the CIA between 1975 and 1980 where he served as National Intelligence Officer for East Asia. Later, as Senator John Glenn's national security advisor, Bob was able to bring this perspective to Capitol Hill, while establishing a close, personal relationship with the Senator who Bob viewed as mentor and friend.

After his time on Capitol Hill, Bob transitioned to the private sector working for Rockwell International, McDonnell Douglas and The Boeing Company leading congressional relations and strategic analysis operations focused on aligning business interests with national security priorities, always reminding those around him that "the customer" was not a DoD contracting officer, but rather the men and women of the Armed Forces.

Government service called again in 2001, when President George W. Bush appointed Bob as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations. In the Pentagon on 9/11, Bob directed deployment of the 5th Special Forces Group into Afghanistan, mindful from his time in the villages of Vietnam, that history is as important as terrain and that custom, tradition and tribal loyalty be can formidable obstacles to technology. In July 2002, Secretary Rumsfeld assigned him as Deputy Director of the Afghan Reach-back Group and then in 2005 Rumsfeld moved Bob back to his role as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations. In 2006 Bob assumed the office of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Counterintelligence until 2007 when he was appointed acting Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence for a brief period, before a fitting return to his first service as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Army Pete Geren until 2009.

At intervals throughout his career Bob was also an accomplished author starting with The Village War (University of Missouri Press), a study of communist political warfare. His articles and editorial commentary on defense and national security issues appeared in The Washington Post, USA Today, The International Herald Tribune, Readers Digest, The Washington Times, Washingtonian Magazine, and Military Review. His novel, A Murder of Honor, was published by G.P. Putnam's Sons in 2001. His second novel, A Murder of Promise, came out in hardcover in 2002, and appeared in paperback in 2003. His third novel, A Murder of Justice, was published in August 2004. Previous works included Center Game, Last Spy Out (Bantam-Doubleday), To Kill the Hangman (a screenplay in collaboration with Victor Gold), Death in a Promised Land, and The Towers (Simon & Schuster). Characteristically his writings reflected deep subject matter expertise combined, even in fiction, with issues of integrity, honor and responsibility.

Recognitions of Bob's service include the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, the Army Meritorious Services Medal, the Company Infantry Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces tab. The Republic of Vietnam awarded him the Gallantry Cross First Class. For his services to the Department of Defense Bob received the Department of Defense Award for Outstanding Public Service in 2007 and the medal for Distinguished Civilian Service to the United States Army in 2009.

A decorated soldier, accomplished business executive, Senate confirmed national security leader, Bob was also a personal mentor to countless members of the Armed Forces, to friends, children of friends and everyday young people with whom he shared lessons learned, perspectives developed and a sense of honor, not academic or unblemished, but real and personal. Similarly, with restaurant servers, bartenders, building supers and people part of everyday life, he knew their names and experiences and they knew and experienced his care and generosity.

In speaking to a class of Green Berets at Fort Bragg in 2002, not long after the national tragedy of 9/11, Bob talked about the importance of battlefield bravery, but also imaginative intellect, the need to acknowledge different values even in the face of terrorism and the idea that a nation's future can be shaped by a dedicated few. Looking out over a new generation of elite soldiers, Bob concluded by saying "our nation is blessed to be defended by such as you!" Of course, all those who have had the privilege of knowing, loving and respecting The Honorable Robert Andrews, would say the same of him!

Bob will be buried next to his wife, BJ, who he married later in life. He is survived by his children, Elizabeth Andrews, Julia Milstead, and Robert Andrews, as well as his brother, Charley Andrews of Florida. He will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.