The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral Robert Joseph Natter, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States while serving as Chief of Legislative Affairs from November 1993 through August 1996. During a period of significant change and restructuring of naval forces, Rear Admiral Natter, through keen understanding of Navy issues and the legislative process, directly influenced numerous Congressional actions in a manner most favorable to the United States Navy and Marine Corps. He personally generated key Congressional support and approval for vital ship, submarine, aircraft, personnel, readiness, and environmental programs during three of the most difficult fiscal years ever experienced. Rear Admiral Natter continuously served as a valued advisor to the very top echelons of the Department of the Navy on a wide variety of subjects, providing cogent and farsighted ideas and concepts that will dramatically shape the future of the sea services into the next century. Through his positive ingenuity and brilliant planning, Rear Admiral Natter contributed greatly to the future strength, readiness, and success of all elements of our maritime forces. By his unfailing decisive leadership, distinctive achievements, and faithful devotion to duty, Rear Admiral Natter reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Vice Admiral Robert Joseph Natter, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States while serving as Commander, SEVENTH Fleet during a period of intense operations in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean from September 1996 through August 1998. An impressive strategist, diplomat, and leader who possesses extraordinary foresight, Vice Admiral Natter led the way in promoting U.S. Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet’s “Cooperative Engagement” objectives in the SEVENTH Fleet, enhancing political-military relationships throughout the region. He promoted a team-focused synergy among SEVENTH Fleet task force commanders which ensured the highest SEVENTH Fleet combat readiness for both exercises and real world contingencies. Vice Admiral Natter’s vision for Joint Task Force (JTF) operations became reality under his procedures and a comprehensive training program that made SEVENTH Fleet the standout JTF in the Pacific. Additionally, he established a clear building block approach to exercises with other navies which achieved marked improvements in inter-operability and bilateral capabilities. His untiring efforts throughout this period have left a significant and lasting legacy in the Pacific Theater. Vice Admiral Natter’s superb leadership skills, distinctive achievements, and unselfish devotion to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Vice Admiral Robert Joseph Natter, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States while serving as Director, Space, Information Warfare, Command, and Control and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Plans, Policy and Operations) from August 1998 to June 2000. Vice Admiral Natter’s initiative, vision, and strategic counsel were of incalculable value to the Department of the Navy, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Secretary of Defense during a period of unprecedented geopolitical turbulence and evolution in U.S. National Security Strategy. Coupling his extensive operational background with an exceptional insight of legislative affairs and budget dynamics, Vice Admiral Natter successfully drove the Navy effort to gain critical resource support for fielding major initiatives in Information Technology for the 21st Century and in the Navy-Marine Corps Intranet. He played a pivotal leadership role in the Navy’s coordination with the Administration, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Congress which resulted in the Navy regaining the use of Vieques as a combined weapons training range. Additionally, he was personally responsible for significantly enhancing military relationships between the United States and several nations through an aggressive engagement plan and a comprehensive Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks Program. Vice Admiral Natter’s superb leadership, distinctive achievements, and unselfish devotion to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.