Member Profile

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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 and the Navy's Executive Business Course in 2009. Prior to his civilian public service, Mr. Geis served as a Naval Officer for 30 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 commanding Naval Air Station Oceana led the Navy’s response and recovery effort to the “Good Friday Miracle” F/A-18 mishap in Virginia Beach in April 2012 as well as the response and recovery from the Washington Navy Yard active shooter event in 2013. Mr. Geis leads the City of Chesapeake’s major operational departments including Police, Fire, Emergency Management, Public Works, Public Utilities, Public Communications and the City Fleet and Garage.