Robert Schaefer

Robert W. Schaefer, LTC (Retired), is a highly decorated U.S. Army Special Forces officer, diplomat, author, and internationally recognized defense and leadership consultant. Over the course of a distinguished military career spanning several decades, Schaefer served in nearly every major U.S. overseas operation since 1990. His assignments took him across the globe, including deployments and postings in Russia, Ukraine, Estonia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan, where he worked at the intersection of military operations, diplomacy, and strategic planning.

Schaefer began his career as a Special Forces Engineering and Demolitions Sergeant and was later commissioned as an officer in 1993 after earning the prestigious Abrams Award as the top non-scholarship ROTC cadet nationwide. He is among a rare group of "double-sewn" Green Berets, having completed the Special Forces Qualification Course both as an enlisted soldier and as an officer. In both instances, he was recognized as the Honor Graduate and recipient of the Leadership Award.

One of his most historic accomplishments came when he became the first U.S. officer to lead Russian military forces in combat. He directed joint artillery missions in support of Russian airborne troops—marking the first such collaboration since World War II. For this unprecedented achievement, he was honored with the SOCOM Person of the Year/Singlaub Award for excellence in collaboration with Russian forces.

Schaefer also served as the U.S. military attaché in Estonia, where he played a pivotal role in helping to establish the Estonian Special Forces and Cyber Defense Command. In recognition of his contributions, he became the only foreigner ever to receive decorations from all three of Estonia’s national defense institutions, including the Distinguished Service Cross, the Ministry of Defense Cross of Merit, and the White Cross of the Kaitseliit.

Academically, Schaefer holds a master’s degree from Harvard University, where he focused on Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. His deep expertise in this region led to numerous opportunities as a geopolitical analyst. He served as NBC’s on-air Russian Security Analyst during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where his insights contributed to the prevention of a planned terrorist attack.

Schaefer is also an accomplished author. His book, The Insurgency in Chechnya and the North Caucasus: From Gazavat to Jihad, received critical acclaim and was listed among Kirkus Reviews’ “Best of 2011.” It is widely recognized as a foundational text on regional insurgency and counterterrorism. He has also contributed to several other academic and professional publications, including The Fire Below: How the Caucasus Changed Russia and Operation Homecoming, and serves on the editorial board of the academic journal Caucasus Survey.

After retiring from active duty, Schaefer transitioned into leadership consulting and now serves as the Managing Director of Phalanx Strategic Solutions. He is the creator of Ethosynthesis®, a methodology that draws on elite military training to build resilient and purpose-driven organizational cultures. He also developed a suite of leadership tools and frameworks—such as the Leadership Operating System, Strategic Insight Framework, Fear Inoculation, and MAPPED Goals—that translate the strategic principles of Special Forces into practical models for corporate and nonprofit leadership.

Schaefer is a founding partner of American Freedom Distillery and remains actively involved in veteran support initiatives. He regularly speaks at events and contributes to charitable efforts, including supporting service dog organizations and veterans’ networks. A member of Mensa since 2000, Schaefer exemplifies a unique balance of intellectual rigor, emotional intelligence, and global operational experience.

Through a lifetime of service and continued innovation in leadership and strategy, Robert W. Schaefer stands as a model of adaptability, courage, and commitment to both country and community.