Robert L. Barksdale
PEO C4I & Space / PMW130
CND Fielding & Sustainment APM
Mr. Barksdale has over 40 years of experience supporting the greatest Country and Naval Force in the world. A native of Toronto, OH, he entered naval service in 1976, graduating from Basic Training in Orlando, FL. Later that same year, he completed Radioman Class “A” School certified as a Naval Communicator. His first tour of duty was overseas at the Naval Tele-Communications Area Master Station Mediterranean (NCTAMS MED) Naples, Italy supporting the Navy’s European theater. Follow-on enlisted shore tours included Guantanamo Bay Cuba as a Communications Watch Officer (CWO), NCTAMS Western Pacific (WESTPAC) Guam as Communications Supervisor, and Communications Field Support to Commander Naval Special Warfare Group Two (COMNAVSPECWARGRU TWO).
In 1985, Mr. Barksdale successfully screened as a member of the Navy commissioning crew (aka. Plankowner) onboard the USS VALLEY FORGE (CG 50), the Navy’s newest Ticonderoga-Class guided missile cruiser homeported in San Diego, CA. He served as the Communications Division Leading Petty Officer (LPO), earning the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) designation and promotion to the rank of Chief Petty Officer (CPO), ultimately assuming the duties as Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO) onboard. Upon transfer in 1990, he was again screened and selected for the commissioning crew onboard the USS CHOSIN (CG 65) homeported in Pearl Harbor, HI.
Mr. Barksdale was commissioned as a Naval Officer under the Chief Warrant Officer/Limited Duty Officer (CWO/LDO) program in 1992. Designated a CWO2, he reported to the amphibious warship USS TARAWA (LHA 1) and served as the Radio Officer (RDO) until 1995. During his tour of duty, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) and personally requested to fill a critical vacancy onboard USS PELELIU (LHA 5). He attained his Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) and Command Duty Officer (CDO) qualifications and was promoted to Lieutenant (LT) before reporting to Commander Naval Air Forces Pacific (COMNAVAIRPAC) as the Automated Information Systems (AIS) Officer in 1999 overseeing the installation of tactical networks on Pacific carriers.
In 2002, Mr. Barksdale reported back to sea onboard USS PELELIU (LHA 5) as a Department Head (DH), assuming duties as Communications Officer (COMMO) and Deputy Command and Control, Communications, Computers, and Information (C4I) Officer. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) and helped establish the communications requirements for the Navy’s 1st Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG 1). He transferred in 2004 to the Program Executive Office for C4I and Space (PEO C4I/Space) serving as Liaison Officer for Tactical Messaging and Tactical Networks before assuming duties as Afloat Computer Network Defense (CND) Assistant Program Manager (APM) until his retirement in 2006. As a Senior Enlisted and Naval Officer, he received numerous personal awards and unit citations during his 30 year naval career.
Today, Mr. Barksdale is a Navy/Department of Defense (DOD) Level Three Certified Acquisition Professional in Program Management. He manages an annual budget over $20M and is responsible for the deployment and sustainment of tactical Information Assurance (IA)/CND Cyber tools to over 320 ships, submarines, and shore Network Operation Centers (NOC) throughout the globe.
He is married to the former Anna Maria Cisneros and they reside in Chula Vista, CA.