Captain Robert W. Lightfoot, a native of Concord, Michigan, is a 1999 graduate of the United States Naval Academy.    

His division officer assignments included Machinery and Boiler Divisions in USS COMSTOCK (LSD 45), where he participated in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in 2001-2002 and in USS ANTIETAM (CG 54) in 2002-2003, where he served as Fire Control Officer, deploying to the Western Pacific Ocean.  Following his division officer tours, he served as an Air Defense Instructor at Tactical Training Group, Pacific.

He returned to sea duty in 2006 as the Operations Officer in USS LABOON (DDG 58), where he completed a Standing NATO Maritime Group Two deployment to the Mediterranean Sea in support of Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR.  His second department head assignment was in USS CHOSIN (CG 65), in 2008-2010, as the Operations Officer.  While serving in CHOSIN, he deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and the international counter-piracy mission under Commander, Task Force One-Five-One.

Captain Lightfoot served in the OPNAV Strategy and Policy Division (N51) from 2010 to 2012.  Subsequently, he attended the USMC Command and Staff College in Quantico, VA, earning a Master’s Degree in Military Studies in 2013.  He also served as a Strategy Analyst in the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Agency’s (JIDA) J9 – Analysis Directorate from 2013 to 2016. 

He served as Executive Officer in USS LABOON (DDG 58) from September, 2016 to December of 2017, where he deployed to the U.S. FIFTH and SIXTH Fleets.  Assuming command of LABOON in March of 2018, Commander Lightfoot again deployed to the U.S. FIFTH and SIXTH Fleets, taking part in Operation STEADFAST PROTECTOR, launching Tomahawk missiles to destroy Syrian infrastructure and chemical weapons production facilities.

Returning to shore, Captain Lightfoot served in OPNAV N9 Special Programs Division 2019 to 2021, followed by the Joint Staff J5, in the Deputy Directorate for Counter Threats and International Cooperation from 2021 to 2023, where he coordinated Joint Staff efforts related to Climate Change and Global Fragility Act implementation. After departing the Joint Staff, he served in OPNAV N1, where he was the Branch Head and Resource Sponsor for the Navy Personnel and Pay (NP2) system from 2023 to 2024.

Captain Lightfoot reported to MCWAR in August of 2024.