Robert W. "Andy" Andersen is a retired Navy Captain with over 24 years of service. He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1977 and obtained his Masters in National Security from the Naval War College in 1992. He has been employed at various levels in corporate America since 2001.

Among many duty stations while in the Navy, Captain Andersen commanded Patrol Squadron Sixteen in 1994, with his last tour in 2001 as Commanding Officer of Patrol Squadron Thirty, America's largest Naval Aviation Squadron. Andy also served as a Catapult and Flight Deck Officer on the USS John F. Kennedy and in the Pentagon as the Deputy Executive Secretary to Bill Cohen, the Secretary of Defense. For Secretary Cohen Captain Andersen handled issues for the White House, Vice-President, Joint Staff, DOD Public Affairs, and Department of the Navy. He also accompanied the Secretary on several domestic and international trips as his personal Military Aide.

 

Near the end of his military service, Captain Andersen served as the military representative to Jacksonville's Super Bowl Committee. He also worked with the Jacksonville Airport Authority in constructing and executing the Super Bowl Plan for the Jacksonville International Airport. He is currently a spokesman for Northeast Florida Hospice, Navy Mutual Aid Association headquartered in Washington DC and a naval aviation consultant for Logistics Service International in Jacksonville, Florida.

 

Andy has authored and presents a motivational leadership and life management seminar titled "Living well... Making a Difference" to varied audiences throughout the Navy-Marine Corps and civilian community. A book by the same title was published in November of 2009. His simple message about how to maximize your remaining heartbeats by focusing on others continues to gain momentum and is a joy to experience. His goal is to make you feel better about yourself, your neighbor and your country. Having impacted thousands of military audiences, his dynamic principles and "deck plate" leadership concepts are now impacting the civilian community. His affable humor, heart tugging stories and time tested leadership tools will leave you with hours of reflection. Andy's message could not be better timed for the economic crisis gripping America. His message about focusing on what truly makes your life "rich" leaves you with a smile on your heart. Bottom line, joy-filled people are more productive in life!

True to his message, Andy is also an active community supporter. He was a member of the Jacksonville Super Bowl Committee, Downtown Rotary Club; and Board of Directors for the Downtown YMCA Pine Castle, Inc. (for disabled adults); and serves as a Hospice volunteer with terminally ill patients.

Andy has been married to the former Cindy Hallahan of Chicago, Illinois for over 32 years. They have two sons: Matt, who is a natural gas field engineer and lives in Arkansas with his wife, Stephanie, and their son, Brady; and second son Brad who lives in Florida with his wife, Christy, both financial analysts. Andy Andersen is an avid golfer, jogger, ice hockey player.

 

 

 

"We attended a class last week where Andy Anderson was a speaker. He is a retired Navy Captain, a hospice caregiver, and represents military everyere but, more importantly gave an incredible message about what's truly important in life. His message was that it's people and relationships that matter and not stuff. This guy was increbile and certainly gave us a new perspective about life."