Vice Adm. Robert B. Murrett (Ret.)

Robert B. Murrett serves the Deputy Director of the Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy and Law, and is a faculty member in the Department of Public Administration and International Affairs in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.  He holds a courtesy faculty appointment with the Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute and is on the Advisory Board of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, both at the University.

A specialist in defense analysis, military intelligence, national security, and international relations, Murrett teaches popular courses in the Maxwell School on the “US Intelligence Community: Governance and Practice” and “US Defense Strategy, Military Posture, and Combat Operations”; leads capstone projects for the Veterans Administration, Rand, and IDA; and organizes legendary “staff rides” for students to discuss military leadership and strategy at Fort Stanwix and Oriskany in Upstate New York and the Gettysburg, PA, National Military Park.

Before joining Syracuse University, Murrett was a career intelligence officer in the US Navy, serving in assignments throughout the Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East through 34 years of duty, retiring as a Vice Admiral. Murrett was the fourth Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency from July 2006 through July 2010. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Director of Naval Intelligence from April 2005 until July 2006.

Following his commissioning, Murrett was assigned as an afloat intelligence officer, including Mediterranean, North Atlantic, and western Pacific deployments aboard USS Kitty Hawk, USS America, and USS Independence. He was assigned to Defense Intelligence College in 1980, then detailed to the Chief of Naval Operations Intelligence Plot as a watch stander and briefing officer for Navy civilian and military leaders. From 1983 to 1985, he served as Assistant Intelligence Officer for Commander, Second Fleet. In 1989, Murrett reported to Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, where he was assigned as Operational Intelligence Officer. From 1992 to 1995, he served as Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence for Commander, Carrier Group Eight, and deployed to the European and Central Command theaters.

Between 1995 and 1997, Murrett was Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence for Commander, Second Fleet, and served concurrently as N2 for NATO’s Striking Fleet Atlantic. From June 1997 until September 1998, he was assigned to the Chief of Naval Operations Staff as Executive Assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence. He was then assigned as Director, Intelligence Directorate, Office of Naval Intelligence in September 1998. He assumed the duties of Commander, Atlantic Intelligence Commance August 12, 1999. Murrett served as the Director for Intelligence, U.S. Joint Forces Command, from August, 2000 through January 2002. From February 2002 through March 2005, Murrett was assigned as the Vice Chair Director for Intelligence, on the Joint Staff.

Murrett received a B.A. in history from the University of Buffalo and a M.A. in government and strategic intelligence from Georgetown University and the Defense Intelligence College.