Born on August 2nd, 1979, in Louisiana, Robert spent a year at Louisiana State University before deciding his path lay elsewhere. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in August 1998, alongside his childhood friend from Shreveport, Jonas Kelsall, and by December 1999 had graduated Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, earning his Trident.

Robert served with SEAL Team 3 from 1999 to 2004, then, in late 2004, successfully completed the demanding selection and training for the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He was assigned to Gold Squadron, serving as both an assaulter and a sniper, roles that placed him at the front of the nation's most dangerous missions.

He survived being shot in the back of the neck during an altercation in Guam in 2003, and in 2010, during a raid in Afghanistan, showed decisive leadership when a roof collapsed under fire, eliminating five Taliban fighters to protect the men around him. Over his career he earned four Bronze Star Medals with Combat "V" device for valor, a Joint Service Commendation Medal with "V" device, a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with "V" device, and three Navy Good Conduct Medals.

On August 6, 2011, Senior Chief Reeves was aboard the CH-47 Chinook helicopter callsign Extortion 17, part of a Naval Special Warfare quick reaction force responding to support U.S. Army Rangers engaged with insurgent forces in Wardak Province. When the helicopter was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade, all 38 aboard were killed, among them his lifelong friend Jonas Kelsall. It was the greatest single-incident loss of life in Naval Special Warfare history.

Senior Chief Robert J. Reeves fought for his teammates from the moment he took the oath alongside a friend from home to the moment he gave everything on a mountainside in Wardak Province. His courage and his loyalty to the men beside him will never be forgotten.