Colonel Robert Hurst graduated from the Naval Academy in May 2002. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Economics and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Following The Basic School, 2ndLt Hurst commenced Aviation Preflight Indoctrination in May 2003 at NAS Pensacola, moving to NAS Whiting Field to complete primary flight training. 1stLt Hurst was selected for prop training in November 2003 and after several intermediary training stops, 1stLt Hurst joined his first fleet squadron, VMGR-252, at MCAS Cherry Point, NC, in January 2005. While at VMGR-252, Captain Hurst deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from February-September 2006 and January-July 2008.

During October 2008, Captain Hurst was transferred to 2d Tank Battalion at Camp Lejeune, NC to serve as a Forward Air Controller, H&S Company Commander for 2d Tank Battalion, as well as 2d Tank Battalion Executive Officer for three months. October 2009, Captain Hurst returned to VMGR-252 where he gained all of the qualifications necessary to attend WTI, however in September 2010, Captain Hurst was selected to attend the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, and graduated second in Class 140. He served with VX-20 from January 2012 – December 2014 as the K/C-130 project officer and platform coordinator. In December 2014, Major Hurst returned to USNTPS as a fixed wing flight test instructor in both the C-12R, and the T-6B.   

Major Hurst was selected for the FY16 Commandant’s Professional Intermediate-Level Education board, and then ultimately selected to represent the Marine Corps at the Joint Command and Staff Program in Canada from 2016-2017. In Jan 2017, Major Hurst was selected to be an Acquisition Officer, and slated to move to PMA-207 to assume the role of Deputy Program Manager of the C/KC-130 team. In July 2020, LtCol Hurst was selected to be the PEO(A) Chief of Staff, and in August 2021, LtCol Hurst was selected for the MV-22B, V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275), as the DPM for MV-22.

December 2021, LtCol Hurst was selected for Top Level School and assigned to the Secretary of Defense Fellowship program with Textron Systems in Cockeysville, MD, and after a short time as the MAD XO, Col Hurst assumed the duties in April 2024 of Military Assistant to ASN(RDA). In June 2024, Col Hurst was selected to be the Program Manager of PMA-275, his current assignment.

Col Hurst has over 2,600 flight hours in 22 models of jet, prop and rotary wing aircraft. His personal decorations include an Air Medal with Strike/Flight numeral “8”, the Meritorious Service Medal (2), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3), and a Humanitarian Service Medal.