Robert S. Wood

In 2009, Wood was called as president of the Boston Massachusetts Temple, succeeding Kenneth G. Hutchins. His wife, Dixie Jones Wood, served as temple matron. He held this position until 2012.

As part of his responsibilities at the Naval War College, and to the larger military and civilian infrastructure, he has directed war gaming, research, and analysis, for decision makers at the senior levels of the U.S. government, earning his reputation as one of the world's leading authorities on gaming and simulations as an aid to decision-making. After serving as Dean of the Naval War College Strategy Department from 1980 to 1983 Wood was appointed as Dean of the Center for Naval Warfare Studies in 1983. During his time in this position, the four elements of the Center - wargaming, advanced research, the Strategic Studies Group, and the Naval War College Press-- "were integrated to become the Chief of Naval Operations's think tank of first resort." During this period, in his capacity as Director of the Center for Naval Warfare Studies, he oversaw the largest gaming series in U.S. history, "The Global War Games" which included hundreds of senior military and civilian leaders who came together for a two- to three-week period to explore conflict and crisis scenarios, and to explore alternative strategies, policies, and operational plans. During the course of his career he has provided advice on a number of occasions to the White House, the Congress, and the Department of Defense, and represent the United States in meetings with Soviet and British officials during the Cold War.

After high school, Wood began studies at Stanford University, where he met Dixie Leigh Jones. He served in the French Mission from 1957 to 1959, and when he returned to the United States to complete his degree in history, he and Dixie began dating. He recalls, "Probably the most significant question she asked after we had been dating for a while was when she looked me straight in the eye and said, 'Robert, are you going to stay active?' " His answer was clear, and they were married in the Idaho Falls Temple on 27 March 1961.

From 1957 to 1959, Wood served as a missionary in the church's French Mission. Prior to his call as a general authority, his other church leadership positions included area seventy, regional representative, stake president, and bishop. In April 1999, he was appointed as a general authority, serving in the Second Quorum of the Seventy, at the church's general conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. His assignments included being sent to South America, where he was responsible for overseeing social, humanitarian and ecclesiastical affairs for Northern Brazil.

Robert S. Wood (born December 25, 1936) has had a career in the dual areas of state and religion, both as a leader and advisor to senior civilian and military officials of the United States Government in the area of National security affairs, and as a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).