Robert Heinssen

Name: Robert Heinssen
City/State: Garrett Park, MD
Branch of Service: Army
Dates of Service: June 2004 – May 2012
Last Rank Held: O4
Military Occupation: 73B – Clinical Psychologist
Current Occupation: Retired Scientific Executive, National Institute of Mental Health
X: NA
Instagram: NA
Facebook: facebook.com/robert.heinssen

Robert outside of the military:

I am a clinical psychologist who recently retired from the National Institute of Mental Health after 25 years of public service. I now work part-time as a consultant on a variety of mental health issues. Outside of these activities, I spend considerable time helping my wife on home renovation projects and playing with my grandsons, ages 4 and 2. I have started writing a family history for the boys so they will know more about their ancestors who left Europe to start new lives in the U.S. Working on this history has reacquainted me with my own parents and grandparents, long deceased but now very much alive in my memories.

Robert on joining the IAVA Cavalry:

I joined the military to protect and preserve our Constitutional form of government. My experiences as a soldier deepened my respect for the “American experiment,” which is our nation’s singular contribution to civilization. Now a veteran, I realize that it is my duty to continue this mission in civilian life. Joining the IAVA Cavalry will give me a new chance to serve and to extend the benefits of a free society to my grandchildren.

How the military experience affected Robert’s personal growth:

I am an older post-9/11 veteran. I trained and served with soldiers 2-3 decades younger than I, and from backgrounds and life experiences much different from my own. This exposure broadened my perspective on the richness of our population and the many ways a person can qualify as a good American.

I welcome the opportunity to convey what I learned as an OEF soldier about duty, respect, and honor, and as a veteran, the necessity to stand up for democracy at home.

IAVA’s policy priorities that are the most pressing:

I believe that the “protect our democracy” priority is the most pressing issue. For almost 250 years the United States has been a nation based on the rule of law, especially the Constitutional checks and balances that enumerate powers of the three branches of the federal government. This system is now under attack by elected and appointed officials who seek to undermine citizens’ right to vote, to ignore election results, and to enforce unlawful policies through intimidation and violence. If citizens do not push back assertively against this trend, democracy will die in the United States. If we let this happen, we dishonor the patriots who came before us and abandon our children and grandchildren to a dismal future without fundamental liberties.

IAVA’s policy priorities with the strongest personal connection for Robert:

See answer to the question immediately above.