Gov. Kevin Stitt has appointed retired Air Force Gen. Ben Robinson as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Military, a cabinet position that requires Senate confirmation.

“Gen. Ben Robinson bravely served our country in the United States Air Force, and continues to contribute to Oklahoma’s veterans and military community every day,” said Stitt. “He is a patriot and an extremely qualified expert who will be a champion for our men and women in uniform and the veterans across our state.”

Robinson is the owner/president of Sentry One LLC, an aerospace industry consulting company specializing in a wide spectrum of expertise from military command and control operations to the growth and sustainment of American aerospace through investments in workforce development, business development and leadership.

Prior to his current positions, Robinson served as the executive director of the Boeing Aerospace Operations, Oklahoma City Boeing Site. Robinson was responsible for a role that covered over 2,100 employees in 70 locations worldwide.

Robinson retired from active duty with the U.S. Air Force as a brigadier general in 2002. His nearly 34 years of active duty service includes combat operations in both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army. He commanded two flying wings, a flying group and a space center.  He was a director on the Air Staff in Washington, D.C., and the vice commander of 8th Air Force.  He held a command pilot rating with nearly 5,000 flying hours and over 150 combat missions.

In 2010, Robinson was presented with the first Lifetime Achievement Award by the Oklahoma Aerospace Alliance for his contributions to the sustainment and growth of the Oklahoma Aerospace Industry. In 2012, Robinson was presented with the General Thomas P. Stafford Award for exceptional support and contributions to the Oklahoma Aerospace Industry.

Robinson earned his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Management from Eastern New Mexico University and a master’s degree in Industrial Management from Central Michigan University. In addition, he completed a one-year course of study with MIT as an International Relations Fellow.

“General Robinson is a great, experienced military leader who will bring tremendous capability to represent and serve our veterans and military community within Oklahoma. He has great ideas and energy, and he exhibits his love for our veterans and military community every day. He will be a champion for the Department of Veterans Affairs and a strong addition to help accomplish the governor’s vision moving forward. I think the governor has picked a winner,” said Major General Myles Deering, U.S. Army, (retired).