Childs retires after 45 years of government service

Robert D. Childs, who has served as the dean of faculty and chancellor of the National Defense University iCollege for more than 20 years, retired at the end of January. Under his tenure, the college grew from an institution focused on information resources management into a 21^st century organization to educate the next generation of leaders in the realities of digital government.

In 2010, the Department of Education approved the college's program for a government information leader master of science degree. Childs expanded the courses to include cyber awareness and defense and the programs to include international students.

Childs is a five-time winner of the Federal 100 award and was the GCN Hall of Fame winner for 2013. CACI Vice President David Wennegren, who worked closely with Childs in several executive capacities at the Department of Defense, told GCN that "Bob was has always been a step ahead, with a new course offering, a new approach, or a new program ready to be deployed."

Childs, who also served in the Air Force and retired as a colonel, has formed a company called iCLEAR to provide cyber leadership education to global organizations and governments.