Lieutenant Colonel Rob A. Santamaria is a native of Queens, New York. He received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Corps from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2001. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in Latin American Studies from Columbia University in New York City. While at Columbia, LTC Santamaria was selected to give the graduate student address at the 2013 Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Commencement Ceremony.   

In 2009, LTC Santamaria assessed into the U.S. Army Foreign Area Officer (FAO) program. Some of his FAO assignments have included tours at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, the U.S. Embassy in Colombia, and the U.S. Embassy in Brazil.  In addition, he has deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. 

LTC Santamaria’s awards and decorations include: Combat Action Badge, Army Parachutist’s Badge, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and Joint and Army Commendation Medals.