Commander Robert R. Steen was born at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, in Portsmouth VA. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire's AFROTC program and received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force in 1989. While on active duty, Commander Steen served as a Space Operations Officer in US Space Command with assignments with the 12th Missile Warning Group, and the 6th Space Warning Squadron. During these tours he served as a Crew Commander, Director of Training, and an Executive Officer.
Commander Steen affiliated with the Navy Reserve in 2003, and reported to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) TWENTY SEVEN headquartered in Brunswick, ME. While at NMCB27 he served as the Training Officer (S7), Alfa Company Commander (A6), and the Heavy Air Detachment North OIC. In 2007 he joined the SEVENTH Naval Construction Regiment where he served as the Current Operations Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, and finally the Training Officer. In 2009 he joined the Commander Naval Forces Korea - N9 Department. There he served as the Critical Construction List/Wartime Host Nation Support (CCL/WHNS) Officer. During this assignment he spent almost a month in Korea developing Reception Staging Onward Movement and Integration (RSO&I) plans for USN forces in theater. Also during that year he served in Okinawa, Japan in the Simulation Center supporting the FIRST Naval Construction Division during Exercise Key Resolve 2010.
Commander Steen has been the Operations Officer at the SEVENTH Naval Construction Regiment since October 2010.
Commander Steen is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Maine, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He is a qualified Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist. He holds a Bachelor and two Masters Degrees in Mathematics, Ocean Engineering, and Civil Engineering respectively from the University of New Hampshire. His personal decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy Achievement Medal and various unit and campaign awards.
As a civilian, Commander Steen is a Project Manager for the Wright-Pierce, an Engineering firm.