robert certain, director

Robert Certain was born in Savannah, Georgia in December 1947. An alumnus of Bethesda- Chevy Chase High School in Maryland, he attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, graduating in 1969 with a BA degree in History and a regular commission in the US Air Force.

He was trained as a navigator at Mather AFB CA (Class 70-16), then as a radar navigator when complete, before electing to fly B-52Gs at Blytheville AFB AR. As a B-52 navigator he flew 100 missions over Southeast Asia in 1971 and 1972. He was shot down and captured in December 1972; and repatriated when the war ended a few months later. He retired from the Air Force in 1999 at the rank of Colonel. During his career he was awarded the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross (Heroism), Bronze Star (Valor), Purple Heart (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (4 OLC), Prisoner of War Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.

Since 2007 he served on the Defense Health Board, on its committees on psychological health and medical ethics, and on the DOD Task Force for the Prevention of Suicide by Members of the Armed Forces. He also served on the VA Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War from 2008-2018 and as its chairman for five years. He served on the Board or Directors of the Military Officers Association of America and is currently the national commander of the American Ex- POWs. In 2014 he was inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame.