Bob Steyer was born on November 2, 1948, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on December 12, 1966, and completed basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, in February 1967. A3C Steyer next attended the Airplane General Maintenance Course at Amarillo AFB, Texas, from February to May 1967, followed by service as a T-37 Tweet Crew Chief with the 3511th Organizational Maintenance Squadron (OMS) at Randolph AFB, Texas, from June 1967 to July 1970. SSgt Steyer then attended the F-4 Phantom II course at the F-4 Field Training Detachment with the 4453rd Combat Crew Training Wing at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, between August and September 1970. His next assignment was as an F-4D Crew Chief and Assistant Flight Chief with the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) at Udorn Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from November 1970 to December 1971, and during this time his squadron provided combat air support for the Son Tay Raid on November 21, 1970. He served as an F-111F Aardvark Crew Chief with the 347th OMS at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, from January to December 1972, and during this time he also served as Quality Assurance for the Tactical Air Command Liaison Office at the General Dynamics Plant in Forth Worth, Texas, during contractor F-111F engine integration. SSgt Steyer next served as a T-37B Crew Chief and Shift Chief with the 12th OMS at Randolph AFB from January 1973 to June 4, 1974, when he left active duty and joined the Texas Air National Guard. He served as an F-100D/F and F-4C Crew Chief with the 149th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (CAMS) of the Texas ANG at Kelly AFB, Texas, from June 1974 to January 1984, and during this time he completed his Associate Degree from the Community College of the Air Force in 1982, and his Bachelor of Science and then Master of Science Degrees from Southwest Texas State University in 1982 and 1984. TSgt Steyer was then accepted for officer training, and attended the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee, from January to February 1984, receiving his commission as a 2d Lt on February 24, 1984. Lt Steyer served with the 149th CAMS at Kelly AFB from March to October 1984, and then attended the Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course at Chanute AFB, Illinois, from October 1984 to March 1985. He then served as Officer in Charge with the Organizational Maintenance Branch with the 149th CAMS for F-4C and F-16A/B Fighting Falcons from Mach 1985 to July 1989, and during this time Captain Steyer deployed to Turkey on a NATO exercise with the Turkish Air Force. He transferred to the U.S. Air Force Reserve in July 1989, and served as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee as Deputy Section Chief with the San Antonio Air Logistics Center Propulsion Division/F100 Engine Core Section at Kelly AFB from July 1989 to January 1990. His next assignment was as Foreign Military Sales Program Manager with the San Antonio Air Logistics Center MMV Proven Aircraft Division at Kelly AFB on the Honduras Super Mystere, Peru A-37, Belgium TF/F-104G, Bengladesh T-37, and Morocco F-5 programs from January 1990 to July 1994. During Desert Storm he performed home service support as the FMS Program Manager for the Saudi Arabia Logistics Support Agreement program for C-130, C-140, CN-235, F-5, and F-15 support. Maj Steyer's next assignment was as FMS Program Manager and deployed to Columbia on OV-10 and BT-67 programs with the San Antonio Air Logistics Center/LF Fighter/Training Program Management Division from August 1994 to March 1996, followed by service as F-15 Warfighter Support Team Lead with the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex/F-15 System Program Office Division at Robins AFB, Georgia and to the 131st Fighter Wing, Missouri Air National Guard at St. Louis, Missouri, from March 1996 to April 1998. He served as an instructor for the Commissioned Officer Training course at Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from May to June 1998, and then as an aircraft maintenance officer on the C-17 and KC-135 with the 450th Test Squadron and the 412th Logistics Support Squadron, 412th Logistics Group, at Edwards AFB, California, from June to December 1998. His next assignment was as Test Program Manager on the B-1 and B-2 with the 419th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB from December 1998 to May 1999, followed by service as Program Manager for transfer and bed down of 2 U.S. Marine Corps CH-53/CH-46 helicopter units assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 46 Detachment Bravo at Edwards AFB, T-39 Single Manager, and Senior IMA to the Group Commander from May 1999 to March 2001. Lt Col Steyer served as Senior IMA to the Division chief and lead planner for T56 engine support with the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, from April to September 2001, and then as Logistics Readiness Officer with the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System Technical Coordination Group at Tinker AFB fro Operation Eagle Assist from September 2001 to February 2002. This was the first time NATO was used to defend the United States, when NATO E-3 aircraft deployed to the U.S. from Geilenkirchen, Germany. He then served in the proposed C-5M Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex Engine Division from March 2002 to April 2004, followed by service as Senior Acquisition Advisor for the Test Pilot School X-62A (F-16) Variable Stability In-Flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA) test bed and Senior IMA to the Division Chief with the Air Force Flight Test Center/Acquisition Center of Excellence at Edwards AFB from April 2004 until transferring to the Retired Reserves on January 8, 2006. Lt Col Steyer retired from the Air Force Reserve on November 2, 2008.

His Meritorious Service Medal Citation reads:

Lieutenant Colonel Robert D. Steyer distinguished himself in the performance of outstanding service to the United Stats as Senior Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Commander, 412th Logistics Group, 412th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California. Colonel Steyer served as the senior maintenance and munitions officer responsible for the execution of logistics support for all assigned aircraft test programs valued at 122.5 million dollars. He was pivotal in the noteworthy accomplishment of 10 accelerated test during the Air Force Material Command Operational Readiness Inspection, directly contributing to the Center's "Excellent" rating. As the lead planner in a 2.5 million-dollar joint Air Force and contractor B-2 aircraft low observable material application training effort, he averted a severe shortfall in critical maintenance skills required for testing and development of repairs essential to B-2 combat readiness. Colonel Steyer's stellar planning was key in the performance of accelerated real world B-1 aircraft munitions testing in support of the Kosovo conflict, resulting in a 70 percent improvement in B-1 munitions delivery capability. Colonel Steyer's diverse background in depot maintenance led to his selection by the group commander as the Center's T-39 Single Manager. His establishment of a unique T-39 aircraft single manager concept using reserve manpower resulted in an overall 90 percent aircraft readiness rate. He also served as a highly successful military chairperson and orchestrated superb planning for the reserve conference held at Edwards Air Force Base. His outstanding efforts were lauded by two General officers. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Steyer reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.