Robert Goodman graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1978. He was shot down over Lebanon in action in which his pilot, Lieutenant Mark Lange, was killed. Goodman was held in Syria until his release, which was negotiated by Reverend Jesse Jackson, a month later, and was welcomed home by President Ronald Reagan in ceremonies at the White House on January 4, 1984. He retired as a U.S. Navy Commander.