Robert B. Oakley was born in Dallas, TX on March 12, 1931. He was raised in Shreveport, LA and attended Southfield School. He went on to graduate from South Kent School in Connecticut and then Princeton University with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and history. He served as a U.S. Naval Intelligence Officer in Japan. After military service, he attended Tulane University and entered the Foreign Service.
Robert is perhaps best known for his service as the President’s Special Envoy for Somalia. He had a long and distinguished career in the Foreign Service, including an assignment as Ambassador to Pakistan. He was awarded the State Department Meritorious Award and the State Department Distinguished Honor Award. Robert passed away on December 10, 2014 at the age of 83.