Rob Simpson is an active-duty Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist with 20 years of military public affairs and crisis communication experience. He is currently working with B2 through the Department of Defense’s Skillbridge program, which facilitates his transition from military service by gaining civilian work experience.
Rob has served as a public information officer for responses to natural disasters, mass rescues and international military operations. Notably, he led the public information response team during the June 2023 search for the Titan Submersible lost in the North Atlantic Ocean. Rob managed all strategic communication efforts across federal, international and private industries involved in the search, overseeing information releases and engaging with press and social media.
As a Type 3 Public Information Officer, Rob has led and supported responses to major environmental incidents, including the Refugio oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and numerous hurricanes along the U.S. Coast and Caribbean nations. His work in the Maritime Transportation System includes stakeholder and public engagement during incidents in the Ports of Tampa, San Diego and Boston. Rob has also deployed to South Korea, Russia, Canada, Mexico, Haiti, Cuba and Antigua and Barbuda, providing external engagement and support for military operations in key, sensitive locations.
In San Diego, Rob coordinated joint efforts with the Regional Coordinating Mechanism to prevent dangerous maritime border crossings. He led awareness campaigns targeting Southern California residents to prevent vessel theft and dissuade migrants from attempting risky border crossings by sea. He also coordinated press engagements with high-ranking officials, including the U.S. Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security, to showcase against transnational organized crime, such as the offloading of hundreds of tons of cocaine seized in the Eastern Pacific.
Additionally, Rob has organized annual National Safe Boating Week campaigns to promote boating safety. Through aggressive social media campaigns, he oversaw the production and distribution of multimedia content across enterprise-level platforms, significantly boosting public engagement and contributing to a reduction in boating-related injuries and fatalities.
He plans to retire from the Coast Guard in Spring 2025.
Commentary, Bylines & Interview Facilitation
- Coast Guard provides update on sub search, remaining oxygen levels, FOX News
- Flyover of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill, Deep Sea News
- Storm Troupers: Celebrating Hurricane Sandy's First Responders, Vogue
- Inside the Titan Sub Recovery: A Hopeful Rescue Turned Tragic Mission, Vanity Fair
- Tradewinds Diver Training, U.S. Marine Corps
- Digital Multimedia Portfolio, Defense Visual Imagery Distribution Service
Personal & Professional Awards
- Operation Dry Water: First Place Media Award (2020)
- First Place Cmdr. Jim Simpson Awards for Excellence in Public Affairs (2007, 2023)
- Federal Employee of the Year – Professional Category by South Florida Federal Executive Board (2011)
Education
Rob graduated in 2020 from San Diego State University with an M.A. in communications, specializing in journalism and media studies. He also holds a B.A. in Mass Communications from Thomas Edison State University.
About Rob
Born as an Air Force nomad, Rob has lived across the country and continued to move frequently throughout his Coast Guard career. He and his wife Leah are proud parents of two kids. In his free time, Rob enjoys fishing and woodworking, and he’s glad to call Florida home once again.