Gen (Ret) Robin Rand
Executive Director, Oklahoma Aerospace and Defense Innovation Institute
General (Ret) Robin Rand is the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense Innovation Institute (OADII). In 2021, as the Oklahoma University (OU) policy advisor to the Vice President of Research and Partnerships, he helped stand up OADII and was part of the initial OADII executive director hiring committee.
General Rand served over 40 years on active duty in the United States Air Force, that included six overseas assignments, multiple flying assignments and Pentagon staff tours, and eight different command tours. His last active-duty assignment was Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Commander, Air Forces Strategic-Air. He is a command pilot with over 5,100 flying hours, mostly in the F-16, including more than 480 combat hours.
After retiring from the Air Force in Sep 2018, he served as Chief Executive Officer, Gary Sinise Foundation, a veteran and first responder non-profit support organization, until July 2021; and as the Chairman of the Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings Chairman Board of Trustees until April 2023. In addition to his current duties at OU, he is an Air and Spaces Forces Association board of directors member; United Stated Air Force Academy Falcon Foundation trustee; United States Air Force adjunct contract professor and senior mentor; and senior consultant for several defense industry organizations.
General Rand has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation Science from the United States Air Force Academy; Master of Science degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; and Master of Arts degree in national security policy from the Naval War College.
