Skip to content

Sign up for our free newsletters

The Cipher Daily Brief Under Cover

SIGN UP FOR A CIPHER BRIEF MEMBERSHIP PLAN TO ACCESS EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

JOIN NOW
The Cipher Brief
Sunday December 08, 2019
Member Login
Become a member
Menu
  • Briefs
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Latin America
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • Tech/Cyber
  • Columns
    • Cipher Brief Expert View
    • Economic Tradecraft
    • Fine Print
    • Private Sector
    • Agenda Setter
    • State of Play
    • Strategic View
  • The Dead Drop
  • Our Experts
  • About Us
  • Sponsorship
  • Podcasts
    • State Secrets
    • 15 Minutes
    • The Cipher Daily Podcasts
    • In Brief
    • In My Own Words
  • Threat Conference
  • Membership
    • Become a Member
    • Terms of Service and Pricing Policy
  • Under/Cover
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
    • The Under/Cover Book Store
    • Reviewer Guidelines
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Briefs
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Latin America
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • Tech/Cyber
  • Columns
    • Cipher Brief Expert View
    • Economic Tradecraft
    • Fine Print
    • Private Sector
    • Agenda Setter
    • State of Play
    • Strategic View
  • The Dead Drop
  • Our Experts
  • About Us
  • Sponsorship
  • Podcasts
    • State Secrets
    • 15 Minutes
    • The Cipher Daily Podcasts
    • In Brief
    • In My Own Words
  • Threat Conference
  • Membership
    • Become a Member
    • Terms of Service and Pricing Policy
  • Under/Cover
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
    • The Under/Cover Book Store
    • Reviewer Guidelines
The Network

The Network

Rob Lively
Command Sergeants Major (Ret) U.S. Army Special Operations

Rob Lively retired after 28 years of military service, as the Command Sergeants Major of a Special Missions Unit within The United States Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

As an experienced and proven leader, Rob has operated and led teams and organizations in the most demanding, diverse, and challenging environments. Rob was able to lead and influence from the tactical to the strategic and do so across the boundaries that often exist between services, militaries, agencies, and countries. Rob culminated his Army service at the highest enlisted rank and in the most competitive noncommissioned officer position, retiring as Command Sergeants Major (senior enlisted leader) for the Army’s most elite unit.

Rob upheld an accomplished decorated military career where he performed and led in the most dangerous and active war zones. As a geopolitical subject matter expert, he regularly briefed and provided recommendations to the U.S. Government’s most senior military and political leadership while also cultivating critical relationships with foreign, civilian, and military leaders in support of U.S. national security objectives.

Rob currently serves on the Board of Directors for Patriot Defense Group. He is a consultant for several companies including TIGNUM, a world leader in helping executives become sustainable high performing leaders. Rob founded (with his wife Kathy) The Unit Foundation and he serves as President of the Board of Directors. Rob and his family founded and lead the Union Pines High School Leadership Scholarship Fund which provides college tuition to seniors who demonstrate high potential as leaders. Rob is also a sought-after leadership speaker who shares his leadership and life lessons to diverse audiences all over the world.

Rob and Kathy have been married for 31 years and live in Vass, North Carolina.

More From Rob Lively

Memorial Day: How it has Changed for All of Us
May 27, 2019May 26, 2019
Rob Lively retired after 28 years of military service. This Memorial Day, he explains how remembering the fallen has changed for an entire community. This is Cipher Brief Level I Member Only content....
SOF Leader's Advice For Reaching Full Potential
February 8, 2019February 7, 2019
The Cipher Brief’s new Friday column, ‘Cipher Select’ talks with retired Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Rob Lively, who spent 28 years in the U.S. Army, where he commanded a special operations...
2020 Cipher Brief Annual Threat Conference

Network Spotlight

Nick Fishwick

Nick Fishwick CMG retired in 2012 after nearly thirty years in the British Foreign Service. He did postings in Lagos, Istanbul and Kabul. His responsibilities in London included director of security and, after returning from Afghanistan in 2007, director for counter-terrorism. His final role was as director general for international operations. Nick Fishwick also spent three years on a secondment ...

Read More

The Cipher Daily Brief

Get a daily rundown of the top security stories delivered to your inbox Monday through Friday with exclusive briefs and columns on what matters most to you and your organization.
SIGN UP FOR The Free Newsletter
Sign up

Experts on National Security

The Cipher Brief © 2018
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Get Our Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy