FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patty Coopersmith
Director of Outreach and International Relations
National Defense University iCollege
202-685-2117
coopersmithp@ndu.edu
(Washington DC) Chancellor of NDU’s Information Resources Management College (IRMC or iCollege),
Dr. Robert D. Childs, has announced his retirement. When asked about his decision, he said, “After
careful thought and much reflection I have decided to retire 31 January 2014 from my position as
Chancellor of the National Defense University iCollege. Having served over four decades in government
service, 30 years at National Defense University (NDU), nearly 23 years at the iCollege as Dean of
Faculty and Academic Programs initially, and as Chancellor the last 14 years, it is time to explore new
challenges in a new venue.
“The time has passed swiftly; when you tackle a multi-dimensional job like this, putting yourself and
family ‘all in,’ the results are rewarding, but incredibly demanding. I will be forever grateful for the
opportunities these positions provided, for the many talented colleagues I have been honored to
collaborate with and the lifelong friendships and relationships established. To be associated with such
distinguished professionals who work with and support you in trust relationships is a priceless gift.
“The college collectively, and myself individually, have been recognized globally for some very
important contributions to the IT and cyber workforce communities. I attribute these successes to the
incredibly creative, talented, and dedicated faculty and staff who have served with me at the college. My
contribution was to provide the strategic vision, global strategies, and ‘top cover’ so they could exercise
their professional expertise in a meaningful, uninhibited manner. We made unparalleled advances due to
an unbelievable team effort.”
Under Childs’ leadership, over 16,000 alumni across the Federal government benefit from iCollege
courses. In 2008, the college established the Chief Financial Officer Academy which today brings chief
information officers and chief financial officers together to study information strategies. In 2010, the
college gained authority to offer a master’s degree in "Government Information Leadership" a steadily
growing program.
The college is supporting Department of Defense (DoD) international outreach efforts by establishing a
CIO Academy in Romania and teaching courses in Sweden and Singapore, plus supporting the NATO
Cyber Center in Estonia. In 2010 through 2012, the college, under the guidance of the DoD CIO,
expanded its international reach, offering landmark regional conferences on cyber collaboration and
infrastructure protection in Singapore, UK, UAE, and Thailand collaborating with international leaders
and global companies.
In 2013, Dr. Childs was inducted into the prestigious Government Computer News (GCN) Hall of Fame.
Dave Wennergren, who held several executive positions in DoD calls Childs “…a truly innovative spirit
and a perpetual energy machine" who is regularly looking over the horizon for new opportunities. "Bob
was always a step ahead, with a new course offering, a new approach, or a new program ready to be
deployed," Wennergren said, "and created the learning environment for IT professionals around the world
to survive and thrive." Childs previously has been recognized as a Federal 100 award winner and Armed
Forces Communication and Electronics Association (AFCEA) International IT Executive of the Year. Asked about future plans, Childs stated: "There are numerous cyber leadership education needs and
demands in the US and internationally. I intend to explore a wide variety of options where I can directly
and meaningfully apply my experience, both domestically and internationally. Additionally, I plan to
spend more quality time with my wife, children and grandchildren.”
Dr. Robert D. Childs, Col, USAF, (Ret)
childsrd@gmail.com
703-266-2603
About the College - The NDU iCollege, a U.S. Department of Defense institution, prepares military and
civilian leaders to optimize information technology management and secure information dominance
within cyberspace. Although most students come from DoD (military and civilians), the school also
accepts federal agency, private sector, and international students into its graduate programs. Courses at the
NDU iCollege are completed on campus and/or online. For more information about the college, please
contact
coopersmithp@ndu.edu or visit the college’s Facebook page or website:
www.ndu.edu/icollege.
NDU is the premier national security institution focused on advanced joint warfighter education, leader
development, and scholarship. The University provides rigorous Joint Professional Military Education to
members of the U.S. Armed Forces and select others in order to develop leaders who have the ability to
operate and creatively think in an unpredictable and complex world. For more information about the
National Defense University, please contact: Daniel Magalotti, Acting Public Affairs Officer, at 202-685-3140 or
daniel.magalotti@ndu.edu; or visit
www.ndu.edu.