Colonel (P) Robert J. (Bob) Payne has served in various assignments over his twenty-five-year career. His assignment highlights include Battalion Chemical Officer and Service Detachment Commander, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne); Commander, 112th Chemical Reconnaissance Detachment, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne); Survey Team Leader, Operations Officer, Deputy Commander, and Commander, 7th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team; Deputy State Training Officer and State Training Officer, Joint Forces Headquarters; Chief of Operations, Multi-National Task Force East, Kosovo Forces 10, 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade; Deputy Chief Training Support Branch, Army National Guard Training Division; Brigade Administrative Officer, Executive Officer, and Deputy Commander, 70th Troop Command; Brigade Administrative Officer and Deputy Commander, 35th Military Police Brigade; J3/Joint Director of Military Support, Joint Forces Headquarters. He presently serves as the full-time Chief of the Joint Staff, Joint Forces Headquarters, with military assignment as Brigade Commander, 70th Troop Command.

During his tenure, COL Payne helped lead the operational direction, oversight, and planning efforts for Soldiers and Airmen in support of the following domestic operations: SHOW-ME Hurricane Katrina Relief (2005), SHOW-ME East Missouri Civil Protection (Fall 2017), SHOW-ME Missouri Civil Protection (Spring & Fall 2020), SHOW-ME CAPITOL RESPONSE (2020 & 2021), and Missouri’s longest state emergency duty, SHOW-ME COVID-19 Response (2020-present).

COL Payne’s education includes a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, a Master’s of Science in Environmental Management from Webster University, and a Master’s of Science in National Security Strategy from National Defense University with a concentration in Weapons of Mass Destruction. His military education includes the Chemical Officers Basic and Captains Career Courses, Military Police Captains Career Course, the Combined Arms Staff Services School, NATO Senior Reserve Officers Course, Intermediate Level Education (Common Core and Advanced Operations Course), Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, National War College, and NORTHCOM’s Joint Task Force Commander Training Course.

COL Payne’s military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the NATO Non-Article V Medal. COL Payne has also been awarded the Parachutist Badge (Basic), Canadian Parachutist Badge, German Armed Forces Efficiency Badge (Bronze), and Army Staff Identification Badge.