Colonel Robbins hails from Chesterfield, MA. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1989 and served as an Electronics Technician Second Class and Nuclear Reactor Operator until being nominated to the United States Naval Academy.
Commissioned with a degree in Mathematics in 1995, Second Lieutenant Robbins attended The Basic School and trained at Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL for designation as a Naval Aviator in 1997. In 1998, he qualified in the CH-53D with HMT-301 at MCBH Kaneohe Bay, HI, and joined HMH-366 where he remained until the squadron de-activated in 2000. He served as NATOPS Officer, Flight Line Officer, Quality Assurance Officer, and ultimately as the Maintenance Officer. He augmented the 1999 MISTEX exercise in Okinawa, completed CAX 9/10-98 at 29 Palms, CA, deployed to Dhaka, Bangladesh to support HMX-1 during the historic first POTUS visit to that country in 2000, and partnered with HMH-463 aboard the USS Boxer during the multi-national RIMPAC 2000 training exercise.
Reassigned to HMH-463, Captain Robbins served as Logistics Officer and then as Assistant Operations Officer upon graduation from WTI 2-01. In 2001, he joined other 1st and 3D MAW personnel in Guam to form the Aviation Combat Element of SPMAGTF – Koa Thunder in support of the biannual TRUEX for the 31st MEU.
In June 2002, Captain Robbins reported to Norwich University as the Marine Officer Instructor where he also served as G Company, 4th Platoon Commander, Officer Candidate School. He provided academic and practical courseware covering the Evolution of Warfare and Amphibious Warfare as well as instruction and leadership for midshipmen and cadets.
Major Robbins then returned to MAG-24 as Director of Safety and Standardization for HMH-363. In 2006, he attended the Naval Aviation Maintenance Program Management Course en route to Exercise DESERT TALON before deploying with the squadron as Maintenance Officer to support Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in Al Asad, Iraq. In recognition of the squadron’s success, HMH-363 earned the 2007 Commandant’s Aviation Award. Post deployment, Major Robbins served as Executive Officer before being invited to MAWTS-1.
From 2008 to 2011, he served as Assault Support Department Head, Director of Safety and Standardization, and Operations Officer, participating in numerous WTI Courses and assessing multiple ACE units in preparation for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM during ENHANCED MOJAVE VIPER pre-deployment exercises.
In May 2011, Major Robbins was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps for assignment as the Aviation Branch Head for the Commandant of the Marine Corps Safety Division.
In January 2012, Lieutenant Colonel Robbins reported for duty as the Executive Officer for HMH-464 before assuming command of the squadron in June 2012. During his tenure, HMH-464 provided detachments to the 22nd and 24th MEUs, as well as the final HMH rotation to the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa in Djibouti, Africa. The squadron also premiered the return of active duty HMH support to the Unit Deployment Program in Okinawa, Japan. Following his command tour, LtCol Robbins served on the staff of MAG-29 before attending the United States Army War College from which he graduated with the Class of 2015, earning a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies.
LtCol Robbins then joined the Joint Staff J-7, Joint Force Development, Joint Education and Doctrine, Joint Doctrine Analysis Division. His portfolio included Joint Publication (JP) 3-04, Joint Shipboard Helicopter and Tiltrotor Aircraft Operations; JP 3-07.3, Peace Operations; JP 3-20, Security Cooperation; JP 3-22, Foreign Internal Defense; JP 3-24, Counterinsurgency; and JP 3-68, Noncombatant Evacuation Operations. During his tenure, he augmented the Deployable Training Division during Exercise
PANAMAX 16 at USSOUTHCOM. Upon selection to O-6, Lieutenant Colonel Robbins transferred to MARFORCOM in July 2017.
Colonel Robbins served as the MARFORCOM AC/S G-9 responsible for force level capabilities and requirements, as well as continuous process improvement across MARFORCOM; he served simultaneously as the Command Inspector General until transferring to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa in August 2018 for assignment as the Chief of Staff.
In June 2019, he assumed duties as the Commanding Officer, Marine Aircraft Group 36; he relinquished command in June 2021 and joined Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa where he currently serves as Chief of Staff.
Colonel Robbins’ personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal Strike/Flight with numeral 4, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal. He is married to the former Casey Hamberg of Koloa, HI and they have three daughters; Kate, Reese and Brynn.