AMAC Newsline · Author

Robert B. Charles

National Spokesman, AMAC

AMAC Staff Writing since 2019 @Bobby4Maine Website

1,599

Articles published

Years with AMAC

Topics covered

Aug 25, 2026

Background

Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, Maine attorney, ten-year naval intelligence officer (USNR), and 25-year businessman. He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (North Country Press, 2018), and “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024). He is the National Spokesman for AMAC. Today, he is running to be Maine’s next Governor (please visit BobbyforMaine.com to learn more)!

Credentials

Areas of expertise

U.S. foreign policy and national securityCounter-narcotics and international law enforcementAmerican politics and governmentLeadership, character, and American history

Credentials

Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (October 2003 - March 2005)
Reagan White House staffer (1981-1983)
Deputy Associate Director, Office of Domestic Policy, George H.W. Bush White House (1992-1993)
Staff Director and Chief Counsel, U.S. House Subcommittee on National Security, International Affairs, and Criminal Justice (1995-1999)
Naval intelligence officer, U.S. Navy Reserve (1998-2009)
President and Managing Member, The Charles Group, LLC
Author of 'Narcotics and Terrorism' (2003), 'Eagles and Evergreens' (North Country Press, 2018), and 'Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness' (Tower Publishing, 2024)
Maine attorney
Candidate for Governor of Maine, 2026 election

Education

B.A. — Dartmouth College (1982)
M.A., Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Keasbey Scholarship) — New College, Oxford (1984)
J.D. — Columbia Law School (1987)

Editorial standards

AMAC Newsline articles are written and reviewed by the newsroom listed on each byline. Learn more about AMAC.

Reporting — page 12

1,599 articles

Travel & Lifestyle

Orange Blossoms…in Iraq

Amid the devastation of Baghdad in 2004, orange blossoms bloomed in defiance of war. A firsthand account of rebuilding Iraq’s police force—and finding hope in chaos.

Feb 18, 2026

Politics

Making Bureaucrats Accountable

Government accountability doesn’t happen by accident. Clear expectations, measurable performance metrics, and consistent consequences are essential to transforming bureaucracy into high-performing, mission-driven teams.

Feb 17, 2026

National Security

Democrats Defund DHS – Bad Move

Democrats’ push to defund DHS and ICE risks national security, despite strong public support for border enforcement and deportations.

Feb 16, 2026

Travel & Lifestyle

A Sensible Pace

A winter day lobstering in Maine becomes a meditation on how modern life lost its sensible pace—and why slowing down may be the wisdom we need most.

Feb 13, 2026

National Security

Drugs, Terror, and History

A firsthand look back at Plan Colombia reveals how accountability and leadership once crushed narco-terrorism—and why those same tools are urgently needed again in America today.

Feb 12, 2026

Faith

If They Only Knew

A firsthand account of living among India’s “Untouchables” reveals the brutal reality of lost rights, extreme poverty, and why Americans should never forget how blessed freedom truly is.

Feb 11, 2026

National Security

Can Cuba Be Freed?

Cuba’s long history of oppression may be nearing a turning point as geopolitical shifts and U.S. leadership create a real possibility for freedom, reform, and accountability.

Feb 10, 2026

Making Bureaucrats Accountable

Real leadership in government accountability requires clear expectations, meaningful incentives, swift consequences, and a culture of learning — turning bureaucratic teams into high-performing problem solvers.

Feb 9, 2026

Travel & Lifestyle

Super Bowl LX – A Good Distraction

From Super Bowl I to today’s spectacle, America’s biggest game has always offered something rare: a shared, joyful distraction from the noise of the world.

Feb 6, 2026

Travel & Lifestyle

Shoveling the Roof

Leadership means anticipating danger before it arrives. A New England winter lesson offers a timely metaphor for restoring calm, foresight, and stability.

Feb 5, 2026

Creating Government Efficiency

Government efficiency is not achieved through growth but through disciplined cuts, accountability, and leadership that is willing to challenge entrenched bureaucracies.

Feb 4, 2026