Robert N. Geis was appointed Chesapeake Deputy City Manager on July 1, 2016. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of California, San Diego as well as a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Security Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, RI. He has also completed an executive program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government (2018), a Department of Homeland Security Executive Leadership Program in Homeland Security (2015) as well as completing the Hampton Roads CIVIC Leadership Institute in 2013.
Prior to his civilian public service, Mr. Geis served as a Naval Officer for over 29 years. He flew both the aircraft carrier-based S-3B Viking and the F/A-18F Super Hornet, commanding the VFA-211 Fighting Checkmates on the first east coast deployment of the Navy’s Super Hornet in 2006 and deploying on the aircraft carriers USS AMERICA, USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, USS CARL VINSON, USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, and USS ENTERPRISE during his career. Ashore, he worked on numerous staffs, including the United States Central Command immediately following 9/11/01 and deployed in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. He was selected to command Naval Air Station Oceana in 2010 and led the Navy’s response and recovery effort to the “Good Friday Miracle” F/A-18 crash in Virginia Beach in April 2012 as well as spearheading the Memorandum of Understanding between the US Navy and the City of Chesapeake, a key land use tool that will protect both the mission of NALF Fentress and city residents from potential impacts of jet noise in 2013. When assigned to Navy Installations Command, he assisted in the response to the Washington Navy Yard shooting, including leading the Family Reunification Center. He then led the post-incident assessment of all ashore Navy security and implemented those improvements as the Director of Navy Shore Operations. Mr. Geis’ final duty ashore was as Chief of Staff, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, the largest US Navy region, which included 14 installations and 48 Navy Operational Support Centers across 20 states.
Mr. Geis is the Chief Operations Officer for the city and leads the City of Chesapeake’s major operational departments, including Police, Fire, Emergency Management, Public Works, Public Utilities, and the City Vehicle Fleet and Garage. In this role, he has led the city in the response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, where the city was the first to re-open when the governor allowed opening to the public. He also instituted an Employee Safety and Security Working Group, which has markedly increased physical security in city spaces. He led the Public Works team through numerous large capital projects, including the ribbon cutting of two fire stations, the Public Safety Operations Center, and others. Additionally, he has led the OEM team through numerous large-scale exercises, enhanced interoperability with other jurisdictions, including electronically linking our EOCs in a common operating picture and numerous real-world, natural and man-made emergencies.
Areas of Responsibility: