Rob taught history for over 30 years has been active in living history since 1988. He started in a Revolution War unit (Colonel Albert Pawling's Corps of Levies, BAR) and moved to the War Between the States in 1992 (a mainstream beginning and now stepping up to the CVG). He organized living history weekends for NJ in a program that was awarded a Best Practice citation and personal recognition from the governor's office for his work. As 1st Sergeant, he assisted in bringing a mainstream unit from weak dismounted cavalry impression to a more authentic impression as a company of Virginia infantry.

He believes it is always possible to do a better job and brings that attitude to the CVG. He believes that the Chesapeake Volunteer Guard is the finest unit in which it has even been his privilege to participate. He believes the Sgt Major's role is to work with NCOs and their men to carry out the commands of the officers and to make the officers look good at all times. In his off-duty time he teaches graduate school and writes on topics related to grief, violence and history. His most recent book is Perspectives on Violence and Violent Death from Baywood press and he has an upcoming with (co-authored with Carr Mahar) on the Irish Brigade The Bloody Shamrock: Stories of the Irish Brigade. His favorite quote, by Edmund Burke, sums up his philosophy of life and history, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Rob lives in Washington, NJ (in Bergen County – there are many Washingtons in NJ) with his patient wife, Eileen. They have two sons – Sean (who outranks his father in 18th, 19th and 21st century armies) and Robert Louis. He can be reached at rgs318@optonline.net