CPBN Media Lab: Interview Series

Rob Simmons is the great grandson of Irish immigrants who fled their homeland in search of a better life in the United States. Within a generation, America’s promise and free enterprise system gave Rob’s grandfather the opportunity to send his only son – Rob’s father – to college and retire as a successful owner/operator of five small family businesses. On his mother’s side, Rob’s grandfather was a newspaper editor who in 1934 won a Pulitzer Prize for “meritorious public service” for his campaign against “unscrupulous politicians” who were exploiting the Depression economy and utilizing violence to seize political power in Oregon. The family passed the Pulitzer medal to Rob in recognition of his own dedication to public service. Rob’s public service career began when he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1965 as a Private, and spent 19 months in Vietnam where he earned two Bronze Star Medals. Rob continued his military service in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Military Intelligence Officer, retiring as a Colonel in 2003 with over 37 years of active and reserve service. He is past commander of the 434th Military Intelligence (MI) Detachment New Haven, CT, which won the Reserve Officers Association’s Outstanding Small Unit Award in 1996. In 1998, Rob was recognized by for his contributions to the Military Intelligence Corps with the Knowlton Award for "Integrity, Moral Character, Professional Competence and Selflessness.” Following his active duty service in the Army, Rob joined the Central Intelligence Agency, working as an Operations Officer for a decade, including five years on assignment overseas in East Asia where he participated in difficult and dangerous missions to protect America’s national security. Upon his return from East Asia, Rob left the CIA to join the staff of Senator John H. Chafee (R-Rhode Island) where he was Legislative Assistant for Military, Foreign and Veterans Affairs. In 1981, he was assigned as a staff member to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and soon thereafter was appointed by Chairman Barry Goldwater (R-Arizona) to serve as Staff Director of the full committee. Rob worked with the committee and the Reagan Administration on some of the most important national security challenges of the Cold War. CIA Director Casey presented him with the Agency Seal Medallion – its highest civilian award – in 1985. That year, Rob returned to his hometown of Stonington, Connecticut where he chaired the Police Commission, and taught courses on government at both Yale College and the University of Connecticut. In 1991, Rob was elected by the people of Stonington and North Stonington, and the villages of Mystic, Old Mystic and Pawcatuck to represent them in the Connecticut General Assembly. In his first term, Rob opposed the imposition of a state income tax, fought for fiscal responsibility and took a lead role on transportation issues. Rob developed a reputation as a strong advocate for his constituents. As a result, he won reelection four times. Troubled that entrenched 10-term 2nd District incumbent Congressman Sam Gejdenson had lost touch with his constituents, Rob challenged him in 2000 in a campaign many said a Republican could not win. In that race, Rob came back from a double-digit deficit to defeat Gejdenson in a district where Democrats outnumbered Republicans by 34,000 voters. He was the first Republican in 50 years to win three terms in the district. While in Congress, Rob fought to make sure his fellow veterans received the benefits they were promised. He helped pass the historic “concurrent receipt” legislation that allows military retirees to collect their military retirement and the disability benefits to which they are entitled, and secured critical funding for new construction at the Veterans Home in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. Rob’s landmark accomplishment was working with Team Connecticut to save the Groton Submarine Base when it was targeted for complete closure by the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission. Rob led the fight to keep the base operating, saving 31,000 Connecticut jobs and a critical national security asset in the “Submarine Capital of the World.” After three terms in Congress, Rob was appointed by Governor M. Jodi Rell as Connecticut’s first Business Advocate. During his two year term, Rob visited over 400 local small businesses to listen to employers and workers, and help them address the challenges facing small businesses in Connecticut. Rob Simmons is a 1965 graduate of Haverford College, PA, where he won six varsity letters and was captain of the cross-country and track teams. He earned a Master in Public Administration degree from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in 1979, where he was a Littauer Fellow. Rob and his wife, Heidi, have been married for 35 years. She is a public school teacher at the Regional Multicultural Magnet School in New London, CT, specializing in early childhood education and literacy. Rob and Heidi are blessed with a daughter, Jane, who is a graduate of Trinity College in Hartford and lives in New York City; and a son, Robert, who is a graduate of Providence College and lives in Boston. Rob and Heidi live with their three dogs -- Bailey, Lucy and Grigio -- in Stonington, CT. Bio courtesy of http://beta.joinrobsimmons.com/meet-rob

• candidate for Senator
• CPBN Media Lab