User:JHPorter8/sandbox

= Robert B. Sims = Robert B. “Bob” Sims (November 26, 1934 – September 10, 2003) was U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) from 1985 to 1987, and a special assistant to President Ronald Reagan and Deputy Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs from 1983 to 1985. Following his public service, he served from 1987 to 2001 as executive vice president of the National Geographic Society and president of its magazine group.

Early life and education
Sims was born and raised in Alamo, Tennessee. He earned his bachelor of arts degree from Union University in 1956. He was a Rotary Foundation fellow studying international relations at the University of Sydney, Australia, and a graduate of the National War College. In 1971 he earned master’s degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Wisconsin.

Military service
In the Navy Sims rose from ensign in 1958 to the rank of captain in 1984. He served as a Special Assistant for Public Affairs to the Secretary of the Navy in 1974-78 and Deputy Chief of Information for the Navy Department from 1978-1981. In 1982-83 he joined the National Security Council, serving as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director of Public Affairs. In 1983 he published “The Pentagon Reporters,” a book about journalists who cover the Department of Defense. Sims was tapped to serve as Deputy Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs in 1983. In 1985 his performance led to his appointment as Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) by President Reagan. He served two years in that post, retiring in 1987.

National Geographic years
In 1987 Sims began a second career as executive vice president of the National Geographic Society. During his 14-year tenure at the Society, he established the Magazine Group, bringing together all business aspects of the Society’s four English-language publications (??, ??, ?? and ??); oversaw an increase of 61 percent in the advertising pages in National Geographic magazine; launched Adventure in 1999; revitalized the editorial content of Traveler and World; and created a public awareness campaign to bring geography education back to American classrooms. FRAG, needs to go somewhere: Sims worked as a daily newspaper reporter and as a weekly newspaper editor and publisher WHEN? WHERE? Sims retired from National Geographic in December 2001, and died of cancer at 68 in September 2003. He was survived by his wife, Patricia; two daughters and two sons. JHPorter8 (talk) 20:09, 7 November 2012 (UTC)