Dr. Rob Newson (PhD) is a catalyst for #swarmcancer in the military. He is also a leadership consultant and advisor focused on teams, leadership, and culture. He recently completed three seasons as the VP of Strategy and Vision at the Philadelphia 76ers, supporting culture, innovation, leadership, and decision-making. Prior to that, he served at the Deputy Director of the White House Military Office, responsible for all military support to the President of the United States, including Air Force One, Marine One, Camp David, the White House Mess / Presidential Food Service, White House Communication Service, and the White House Medical Office.
Rob served nearly 30 years in the United States Navy. He is a “start-up” specialist having led or been a part of six separate new military organizations over a twelve-year period, including two national strategic planning elements, and a first-of-its-kind organization designed to collect and integrate battlefield intelligence to identify and disable terrorist networks. This effort increased mission success from 35% to 96% in four years.
He served fourteen years assigned as a strategist – working with small, multi-disciplinary work groups, teaming across organizations and government agencies, analyzing and framing complex challenges, combining alternative solutions in creative ways, and writing about critical issues. He has led diverse teams and task forces – coalitions of the willing where he honed an ability to encourage and inspire cooperation, collaboration, and action; harness information and reputation; leverage networks and alliances; and frame and shape conversations of meaning.
As Department of Defense Federal Executive Fellow he was assigned to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. He holds a BS in computer science from the University of Kansas. He is a graduate of the Naval War College and Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). Graduating with Distinction from NPS, he holds an MS in Defense Analysis (Special Operations / Low Intensity Conflict) and an MA in National Security Affairs (Strategic Studies). He also holds a PhD in Leadership Studies from the University of San Diego.