Robling is a 38 year veteran of the Marine Corps. After attending TOPCON (call sign “Guts”), he was selected as the Naval Flight Officer of the Year (1993).
Upon completing a Masters in National Security Strategy (National War College), he was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In 2003 he was Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Air Wing in Iraq.
He commanded the 3rd MEF and bases in Japan in 2009 before his last command of Marine Forces Pacific (2012-2014).