Captain Robert Werling was born in Brooklyn, New York City and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July 1954. He performed various duties in Ordnance, Missile and Gun Fire Control in four surface ships and was a Fire Control Technician Chief Petty Officer when appointed to Warrant Officer, Electronics Technician in March 1965. In July 1969 he was commissioned as an Ensign, Limited Duty Officer, in Surface Ordnance.

From June 1966 to August 1968 Captain Werling served in the USS CANBERRA (CA 70) as the Fire Control Gunner. From September 1968 to August 1971 he served as Director, Fire Control Training Schools at Service School Command, Bainbridge, Maryland. From there he went to Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he was the Naval Station Ordnance Department Head from September 1971 to July 1974. In August 1974 he was assigned to Mine/Torpedo/Gun/Missile Logistic Support on the Commander Service Forces, Atlantic Staff, and in November 1974 assumed the same position on Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet staff. Then in August 1976, Captain Werling became the Director, Field Training Division, for the Nuclear Weapons Training Group, Atlantic, in Norfolk, Virginia. From May 1978 to February 1980, Captain Werling attended Old Dominion University in the College Degree Completion Program and was graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science with honors.

Captain Werling then reported to the ROK/US Combined Forces Command and Headquarters, U.S. Forces Korea/Eighth U.S. Army, in Ma~ch 1980 and served a one year tour in both the C-4 and J-4 (DJ-AM) sections. He then reported as Tomahawk Project Officer at Fleet Combat Training Center, Atlantic, Dam Neck, Virginia. In September 1981, he transferred to the Naval Guided Missiles School, Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he as Director, Surface Missile Systems Department. In October 1985 he became the Military Assistant to Weapons Systems Department at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, Virginia. Captain Werling reported to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Korea in August 1988 as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations. He served in that capacity until August 1989 when he assumed the duties of Chief of Staff. In February 1991, Captain Werling reported for duty as Chief of Staff, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command, Industrial and Facilities Management Directorate (SEA 07).

In June 1991, he was assigned to the staff of the Executive Director for Conventional Ammunition at Headquarters, U.S. Army Material Command where he is currently the Deputy Executive Director. Captain Werling's personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with gold star, Navy Achievement Medal with Combat "V" and gold star, and Combat Action Ribbon in addition to numerous unit awards and service medals.

Captain Werling is married to the former Patricia Kay Jenkins of Keokuk, Iowa. They have two children, a daughter Stacey and son Todd. He retired on May 1st, 1994,two and a half months short of forty years service which spanned E-1 to E-7, W-1 to WG4, O-1 to O-6. Awarded Defense Superior Service Medal, and served as an LDO Ordnance Captain.