Robert N. Hein

Director, Maritime Operations

30 April 2024 Mr. Hein was appointed Director, Maritime Operations (DMO) at the Military Sealift Command (MSC) in February, 2024. As DMO, Mr. Hein is the principal advisor to the Commander on all matters pertaining to force employment, and is responsible for strategic planning, force structure analysis and resource allocation matters that support short and long term force employment for Fleet, OPNAV, and USTRANSCOM requirements. He has oversight of Intel, Logistics, C4I, Engineering and Contracting functional areas as well as the MSC Maritime Operations Center (MOC). Mr. Hein manages a portfolio of approximately $500 million annual direct/indirect cost authority

Mr. Hein was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2019, where he served as the Director, Plans and Policy for Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT N5) and was the principal advisor to the Commander on matters of policy and planning development regarding foreign engagement, strategic planning, operational research, and Joint and Navy doctrine.

Mr. Hein retired from the U.S. Navy in 2017 following a 30 year career as surface warfare officer. He served on seven ships around the globe and had the privilege of commanding two of those ship: the USS Gettysburg (CG 64), where he also served as the maritime regional air defense commander for U.S. Central Command; and the USS Nitze (DDG 94), where he conducted counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa. He has completed two tours as a requirements officer on the Navy staff for combatant modernization and for future logistics capabilities. He was the current operations officer for U.S. Fleet Forces Command, where he coordinated Navy response to natural disasters and homeland defense. He also has served as an action officer on the Joint Staff, Joint Operations Directorate, and as Chief of Staff to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Mediterranean Fleet. His final position in the Navy was the Deputy Director of Strategy on the Chief of Naval Operations staff. Mr. Hein is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He holds a Master’s in National Security Affairs and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and is a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College. He also served as the Navy’s fellow at the Brookings Institution, and has published extensively on a range of national security issues.