Captain Robert Burnes (RET) JD, MLS (Cherokee Warrior-Cherokee Nation) was born to U.S. Army Master Sergeant James R. Burnes (Cherokee Warrior-Cherokee Nation; Deceased 2015) and Scottish immigrant Pat A. Burnes (Barnes; Acharacle, Scotland; Deceased 2024). Robert grew up in Stuttgart, Germany with a fair amount of his life split between California and Newmarket (UK). Robert recently moved to Connecticut from North Dakota with his wife, Siphannay Burnes (Nhean) (Pronounced Seep-Ah-Nay) (Branford High School 2000, Yale 2004, and Boston University 2009) to raise their two beautiful sons (aged 5 and 4). (Robert and Siphannay recently made the decision to call Connecticut our permanent home!).
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Robert has a B.S. in Aerospace Maintenance Theories from the Community College of the Air Force, a Master in Legal Studies and a Doctorate in Jurisprudence from the Monterey College of Law (Monterey, California).
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Robert has served in the legal world, both in and out of uniform, for over 27 years. He has won dozens of awards for bravery, valor, and life-saving actions. Robert also served as a Special Operations Airman in the United States Air Force (Active Duty 2002-2008) and in the California Air National Guard as a Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter Crew Chief (2008-2016). Robert has won several awards and medals for his service, including valor, bravery under fire, and lifesaving actions. Robert also won several awards during his time in law school, including the Heisler-Moot, and was a finalist in a first-of-its-kind multi-law school Moot Court competition.
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Robert works, alongside his family, to further Native American rights, to enforce treaties, and to dispel misinformation about Indigenous American appearance, customs, and history that is all too often misrepresented in the entertainment industry. He is most passionate about combating the endemic kidnapping and murder of Native American women from in and around Indigenous American lands. Robert created The Grey Winds Project after he retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs-Office of Justice Services to train and assist local and tribal police in missing persons/missing persons at-risk investigations to include how to implement special use vehicles and techniques such as man-tracking, drone use, ATV, and motorcycles. The Grey Winds Project concentrated its efforts in the Midwest where the kidnappings/murder were at their greatest, but the program has refocused those efforts in New England as more data has become available.
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Robert enjoys writing science fiction and true-crime fiction that features Indigenous characters and themes. He is also a noted and awarded Native American pencil artist. Robert also enjoys taking photographs and videography with his drones, riding his motorcycles, and piloting the Pathfinder Falcon (co-piloted by a 4-year-old Wookie, a 5-year-old Han, and the ageless Princess Siphannay).
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Additionally, Robert is a licensed Part 107 commercial drone pilot. He continues to develop skills related to search and rescue and other types of drone operations.