Rob and April at the 2005 Roanoke Navy Birthday Ball
Rob is currently assigned as the Executive Officer for NR CSDS 5 Det ISMERLO which is a support unit for the International SubMarine Escape and Rescue Liason Organinzation (ISMERLO), a NATO unit headquartered at Norfolk, VA. Rob was last activated in August 2005 when the Russian AS-28 PRIZ mini-sub sank off of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Most recently, Rob went to Japan and Hawaii this spring to give Submarine Escape and Rescue training to different Submarine Group Commanders.
Rob and April at the 2005 Roanoke Navy Birthday Ball
Rob as OOD on USS Alaska (SSBN 732)(BLUE)
Rob at the ISMERLO command center the morning of the Russian PRIZ
mini sub sinking. I was the first officer in my unit to get into the command center.
To my left is ITC Wies, a member of my unit, who is showing me the location of the downed sub about 2 minutes
after I had arrived. The Public Affairs Officer snapped this picture;
I didn't even know it was being taken.
This picture ended up on the front page of the local papers.
Rob entering a Submarine Rescue Chamber (SRC) prior to a training
dive to 200 feet off of Santa Catalina Island in Februrary 2006.
April in her less well known military role on the USS Voyager
Rob and April at the 2006 Roanoke Navy Birthday Ball
The Edelweiss Lodge in Garmisch, Germany where Rob went in June 2008
to support the NATO Submarine Escape and Rescue Working Group
Linderhof Palace; one of Mad Ludwig's Bavarian Castles where he
spent significant time as King of Bavaria
Rob with ET2 Sand, one of the sailors in Rob's unit who also came to
Garmisch for the NATO conference
The Partnachklam Gorge, just outside of Garmisch
Rob walking through the Partnacklam Gorge
Hohenschwangau Castle, a castle where Mad Ludwig lived in his youth.
It is across a valley from Neuchwanstein Palace
Rob at a fountain in the courtyard of Hohenschwangau Palace. We finished
up our meeting a day early, and were able to go do some tourist things
like this.
Neuschwanstein Palace, Mad Ludwig's 'Fairytale Castle'. Ludwig never
lived here, since he died prior to it's completion.
The kids were happy to see Daddy after a drill weekend.
Rob had 3 hours for sightseeing; here is an old tall ship that had been
used by the Japanese Navy for training.
Rob went up to the Observation Deck of the tallest building in Yokohama;
here is the same ship from above.
April didn't mind ROb going to Japan because he was going to the land
of Hello Kitty and could bring back lots of souvineers. Here is a
Hello Kitty themed hair salon for girls.