Mr. Robert G. Kopas

Acting Executive Director, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

20 March 2024 Bob Kopas is currently the Acting Executive Director at Commander, Naval Surface Forces and was previously the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff (ACOS) for Computers, Communications, Command & Control, Intelligence Systems and Combat Systems (C5I)) at Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific since June 2020.

Native to Cleveland, Ohio and Pheonix, Arizona where he was a 1980 graduate of Brophy College Preparatory High School. He attended Purdue University on an NROTC Scholarship and was graduated in May 1984 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science and immediately commissioned as an Ensign, in the U.S. Navy. He has also received a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Arts degree (with distinction) in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.

  ob retired from the Navy in early 2012. His various tours of duty included: USS SAN BERNARDINO (LST 1189) as Communications Officer, Electronics Material 
Officer, and Auxiliaries Officer. Highlights included driving a large ship onto a beach (intentionally), West Coast Operations, Change of Homeport to Japan, Various Western Pacific operations during 18 months in Japan; USS ANCHORAGE (LSD 36) as Operations Officer. Highlights included 9 months of operations in support of Desert Storm and Operation Sea Angel (Bangladesh Humanitarian Relief); THIRD Fleet Staff as Future Scheduling Officer; Executive Assistant to the Director of Character Development Division at the US Naval Academy. USS COMSTOCK (LSD 45) as Executive Officer. Highlights included numerous West Coast events and a Western Pacific Deployment; USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD 6) as Operations Officer. Highlights included ship commissioning and preparations for the maiden deployment; Commanding Officer, USS HARPERS FERRY (LSD 49). Highlights included trips to various West Coast and Mexico destinations and Western Pacific Deployment; First Commanding Officer of USS MAKIN ISLAND (LHD 8). Highlights of this fiveyear tour included involvement in building the ship and crew; ship launch & christening; First USN operations of a Hybrid Gas Turbine Electric propulsion plant; First Flight Operations; Maiden deployment around South America from Pascagoula, MS to San Diego; Commissioning in San Diego and numerous west coast events. Two tours on the staff of the Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific -- as N6 (Asst. Chief Of Staff for Computers, Communications, Command & Control, Intelligence Systems and Combat Systems (C5I)) and as N7 (Asst. Chief of Staff for Training).

Following retirement from the U.S. Navy, from 2012-2016 Bob worked for Z Microsystems, a provider of Computers, Displays and Video Enhancement technology to the Military as Vice President of Military Programs, Sales and Business Development. In 2016, he transitioned back to Government service as the Deputy Branch Head for theRequirements, Analysis and Experimentation (N8/N9) at the newly formed Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Command (SMWDC).