Robert S. Wood

Robert S. Wood (born December 25, 1936) has had a career in the dual areas of state and religion, both as a leader and advisor to senior civilian and military officials of the United States Government in the area of National security affairs, and as a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Personal life The youngest of four children, Wood was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Blanche and John Albert (Jack) Wood. He was baptized as a child, received the Aaronic priesthood in his youth, and the Melchizedek priesthood as a young man. He was selected as a delegate from Idaho to the international YMCA Centennial Conference, traveling from Canada, through the Panama Canal, and throughout Europe.

At Stanford, Wood became interested in international affairs, particularly European affairs. While he was writing his honors thesis he came across the book, A World Restored, by Henry Kissinger. Because of the impact the book had on him, he applied to Harvard, to study at the school where Kissinger was teaching.

The Woods are the parents of four daughters and the grandparents of thirteen grandchildren. According to Wood, "Two things explain our family … First, Heavenly Father just sent us four terrific kids. And second, their mother … I would never have been able to do anything that I've done professionally or in the Church had I not married the right woman who asked the question, 'Are you going to stay active?'" Naval War College Strategic Studies Group (Chief of Naval Operations's "Thinktank"), May 1984.Front Row, left to right: Rear Admiral James Service, NWC President, and Admiral James D. Watkins, CNO.Robert Wood, Dean of Naval Warfare Studies: second row, second from left.

As part of his responsibilities at the Naval War College, and to the larger military and civilian infrastructure, he has directed war gaming, research, and analysis, for decision makers at the senior levels of the U.S. government, earning his reputation as one of the world's leading authorities on gaming and simulations as an aid to decision-making. Wood was appointed as Dean of the Center for Naval Warfare Studies in 1983. During his time in this position, the four elements of the Center - wargaming, advanced research, the Strategic Studies Group, and the Naval War College Press-- "were integrated to become the Chief of Naval Operations's think tank of first resort." He held this position until 2012.

Wood has represented the LDS Church in many interfaith organizations and events, including the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Religious Advisory Committee.

Views

Wood's career, both in church and state, was based on his strong belief that the United States was the model for the world in terms of how a separation of church and state — no state run or state established church — was good for both the church and the state, allowing a variety of religions to flourish. Speaking at the Toronto-based Center for New Religions, Wood said that the freedom of conscience and assembly allowed under such a system has led to a "remarkable religiosity" in the United States that isn't present in other industrialized nations.

Wood believes that the U.S. operates on "a sort of civic religion," which includes a generally shared belief in a creator who "expects better of us." Beyond that, individuals are free to decide how they want to believe and fill in their own creeds and express their conscience. He calls this approach the "genius of religious sentiment in the United States."

Works

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Notes and references

2008 Deseret Morning News Church Almanac (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Morning News, 2007) p. 59