Bob Castro has balanced a 30+ year career between corporate, entrepreneurship, and public service, including 15 years in government and a lifetime in family-owned businesses. Most recently Senior Advisor at USAID and the Secretary of State’s Office of Global Partnerships, Bob spent the prior decade in the private sector focused on new market development and corporate engagement in Diplomacy, Development & Defense, living in the GCC Region, Egypt, Mexico, and Washington, DC.
Bob held a series of appointed roles in the Presidential Transition, supporting confirmation of cabinet members while contributing to new policy initiatives and communication plans for Emergency Preparedness, Innovation, Private Sector Engagement, and Indo-Pacific Strategy, including impact investing and creation of the Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Previously Chief of Staff (rank of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary) for Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), Bob oversaw a $1.5 B annual budget, $5.7 B in construction and $14.0 B in assets. He served 10 years on Capitol Hill as professional staff for members of Appropriations, Ways & Means, Transportation & Infrastructure, Science, and Small Business committees and the Office of Technology Assessment.
Bob held a series of appointed roles in the Presidential Transition, supporting confirmation of cabinet members while contributing to new policy initiatives and communication plans for Emergency Preparedness, Innovation, Private Sector Engagement, and Indo-Pacific Strategy, including impact investing and creation of the Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Previously Chief of Staff (rank of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary) for Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), Bob oversaw a $1.5 B annual budget, $5.7 B in construction and $14.0 B in assets. He served 10 years on Capitol Hill as professional staff for members of Appropriations, Ways & Means, Transportation & Infrastructure, Science, and Small Business committees and the Office of Technology Assessment.
Bob was managing VP of a prominent public opinion research firm and Director of Global Security Policy at Lockheed Martin/PAE. He advised executive leadership of the
Corporate Council on Africa, US-ASEAN Business Council, and American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America and the MENA region. Widely published and quoted in national press, Bob has appeared on CNN, NPR,C-SPAN, Univision, and Al Jazeera. He produced live content for C3 US-Arab Summits, Rotary International, and global conferences.
Atlanta native and graduate of Georgetown University, Bob co-chaired the 100th anniversary alumni committee for Villa le Balze in Italy. In 2013, Bob received DACOR’s Tragen Award for founding “PROPS: Professional Partners & Spouses of the Foreign Service.” In 2016, Bob won AAFSW’s Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad.
Current advisory board roles:
The World Innovation Network (www.TWINglobal.org)
The Ayadee Foundation & Fellows (www.ayadeefoundation.org/mentor/bob-castro/)
The Nourish Movement (www.NourishMovement.org)
Start-ups currently advising:
Agromovil (Colombia, Tanzania, Ghana): www.AgroMovil.co
Karma Verde Fresh (Mexico & USA): www.karmaverdefresh.com
Various cohorts of Barclays/Unreasonable Impact: www.unreasonablegroup.com/initiatives/unreasonable-impact/
Corporate Council on Africa, US-ASEAN Business Council, and American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America and the MENA region. Widely published and quoted in national press, Bob has appeared on CNN, NPR,C-SPAN, Univision, and Al Jazeera. He produced live content for C3 US-Arab Summits, Rotary International, and global conferences.
Atlanta native and graduate of Georgetown University, Bob co-chaired the 100th anniversary alumni committee for Villa le Balze in Italy. In 2013, Bob received DACOR’s Tragen Award for founding “PROPS: Professional Partners & Spouses of the Foreign Service.” In 2016, Bob won AAFSW’s Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad.
Current advisory board roles:
The World Innovation Network (www.TWINglobal.org)
The Ayadee Foundation & Fellows (www.ayadeefoundation.org/mentor/bob-castro/)
The Nourish Movement (www.NourishMovement.org)
Start-ups currently advising:
Agromovil (Colombia, Tanzania, Ghana): www.AgroMovil.co
Karma Verde Fresh (Mexico & USA): www.karmaverdefresh.com
Various cohorts of Barclays/Unreasonable Impact: www.unreasonablegroup.com/initiatives/unreasonable-impact/