Rock Blais was born on June 17, 1961, in Norfolk, Virginia. He was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in 1988, and after completing Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, he served with SEAL Team TWO at NAB Little Creek, Virginia, from January 1990 to June 1994. His next assignment was as Operations Officer with Naval Special Warfare Unit FOUR at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, from July 1994 to July 1996, followed by service as Task Unit Alpha Commander with SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team TWO at NAB Norfolk, Virginia, from November 1996 to November 1998. LCDR Blais served as Operations Officer with Special Boat Unit TWENTY (SBU-20) at NAB Norfolk from November 1998 to April 2000, and then with the U.S. Navy Parachute Team the Leap Frogs at MacDill AFB, Florida, from May 2000 until he was killed during a parachute jump into Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on August 30, 2001. Rock Blais was buried at Hampton National Cemetery in Hampton, Virginia. His father, Master Chief Petty Officer Thomas E. Blais (1930-2014) was also a Navy SEAL.

His 4th Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Citation reads:

For meritorious service while serving as Operations Officer at Special Boat Unit TWENTY from November 1998 to April 2000. Lieutenant Commander Blais provided outstanding leadership, direction, and guidance to over one hundred seventy personnel in eight MK V Special Operations Craft and eleven Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat Detachments. Displaying exceptional management and operational foresight, he implemented a program that significantly increased operational expertise of junior officers entering the community. He refined and improved mission readiness by implementing a "Mission-Focused" operational standard for operators, enabling them to achieve command objectives. Lieutenant Commander Blais' professionalism and devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.