11th Annual Maritime Security West

 

 

 

 

Robert Butchart

Emergency Services Coordinator
Maritime Specialist
Assigned to Sector San Francisco, US Coast Guard
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services

Robert Butchart is a native San Franciscan. Robert studied Theology at the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, California (Notre Dame Da Namur University now) with the desire of becoming a Jesuit Priest/Brother or where the Jesuits directed him; he completed degrees in Theology and Psychology in 1982. Robert had missions in Africa, at the Vatican and Northern Ireland. He was student body Vice President and qualified for the Olympic Trials in 1979 while at Notre Dame. Robert entered the United States Air Force in 1982. He served in Air Force Special Operations and in the United States Joint Service Special Operations Command; his last military assignment was in Central America with Navy Special Warfare, 2002. Robert’s secondary specialty code in the military was a Chaplain’s Assistant. In early 2002 after returning from Afghanistan, Robert started working with the United States Coast Guard, Sector San Francisco and District 11 (D-11) in a post 9-11 agreement. During this time, he was also a full time State of California Employee, working for the California State Department of Rehabilitation as a Senior Vocational Counselor. Robert transferred to the California Department of Social Services in 2004 to lead the Health and Human Services Agency’s Volunteer Emergency Services Team (VEST) for the State of California. Currently, Robert is assigned to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES); Robert is responsible for starting the Maritime Program for Cal OES. He is attached to the State Threat Assessment Center (STAC). He’s currently assigned to the United States Coast Guard, in the Interagency Operations Center (IOC) on Yerba Buena Island, Sector San Francisco, D-11.

Post Graduate Education: Robert completed a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Boston University in 1992. He completed a second Master’s Degree in Marine Management and Maritime Infrastructure Engineering from the United States Naval Training Center in Charleston, South Carolina in 1999. He has had an International Certification for Marine and Air Management from the International Seaman’s Association, Boston Massachusetts since 2000.

Military Overseas Assignments: Turkey, Germany, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Panama. Other classified.

Military Campaigns/Missions/Operations: (unclassified) Beirut, Grenada, Antarctica, Fall of the Berlin Wall (Occupied West Berlin), Panama, Desert Shield, Desert Storm (Liberation of Kuwait), Provide Comfort (Iraq), Somalia, Croatia, Kosovo, Saudi Arabia (Southern Watch), Korea, and Afghanistan (Liberation of Kabul)

Major Civilian Responses: 9-11 (New York), Hurricane Katrina, Indian Ocean Tsunami, Hurricane Irene, Japan Earthquake/Tsunami, and Hurricane Sandy and follow-on Nor’easter (Winter Storm Athena) where he was the Deputy Incident Commander in Charge of State and Federal Relief Coordination and the EMAC Lead for the State of California. 2017 California Fire Storms, state lead for four task teams, including Mass Care and Shelter. From 2017 through 2024, Robert’s deployments are numerous.

Noteworthy Mention: In 1995, four years after the Gulf War, Robert was STEP Promoted by the United States Military from E-5 to E-6 for his combat actions during the war. Only 2% of enlisted military members have ever received this type of promotion.

Community Involvement:

  • University of San Francisco, School of Management, Artificial Intelligence Advisor
  • Licensed Minister
  • San Francisco Fleet Week Lead for Community Relations
  • Board of Directors, Seafarers Ministries of the Golden Gate
  • San Francisco Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Regional Chaplain
  • San Francisco Veterans of Foreign Wars Service Officer
  • San Francisco American Legion Chaplain Team
  • VA Administration and US Coast Guard Outreach Program/Welfare
  • United States Navel Order Chaplain Team
  • USS San Francisco Foundation Chaplain
  • Korean War Commemoration Ceremony Chaplain
  • Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, San Francisco. Eucharistic Minister, Arch Diocese of San Francisco
  • Knights of Columbus, 3rd Degree
  • Dolphin-South End Runners since 1975.