Editing Rob Simmons

{{Short description|American politician (born 1943)}}
{{for|other people named Rob or Robert Simmons|Robert Simmons (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|name         = Rob Simmons
|honorific-suffix =
|image        = Rob Simmons 109th pictorial photo.jpg
|alt          =
|office       = [[First Selectman]] of [[Stonington, Connecticut]]
|term_start   =  November 16, 2015
|term_end     =  November 18, 2019
|predecessor  =  George Crouse (acting)
|successor    =  Danielle Chesebrough
|state1       =  [[Connecticut]]
|district1    =  [[Connecticut's 2nd congressional district|2nd]]
|term_start1  =  January 3, 2001
|term_end1    =  January 3, 2007
|predecessor1 =  [[Sam Gejdenson]]
|successor1   =  [[Joe Courtney (politician)|Joe Courtney]]
|state_house2 = Connecticut
|district2    = [[Connecticut's 43rd assembly district|43rd]]
|term_start2  = 1991
|term_end2    = 2001
|predecessor2 = Frank Turek
|successor2   = [[Diana Urban]]
|birth_name=Robert Ruhl Simmons
|birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1943|2|11}}
|birth_place  = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
|death_date   =
|death_place  =
|restingplace =
|restingplacecoordinates =
|birthname    =
|nationality  =
|party        = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|otherparty   =
|spouse       = Heidi Simmons
|partner      =  <!--For those with a domestic partner and not married-->
|relations    =
|children     =
|residence    = Stonington, Connecticut
|alma_mater   = [[Haverford College]] (BA) <br /> 
[[Harvard Kennedy School]] ([[Master of Public Administration|MPA]])
|occupation   =
|profession   = Intelligence professional, college professor, congressional staff member
|cabinet      =
|committees   =
|portfolio    =
|signature    =
|signature_alt=
|website      = [http://www.joinrobsimmons.com/ Campaign website]
|footnotes    =
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|blank4       =
|data4        =
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|data5        =
<!--Military service-->
|nickname     =
|allegiance   =
|branch       = [[United States Army]]<br />[[Central Intelligence Agency]]
|serviceyears = 1965–1968 (active)<br />1969–2000 (reserve)
|rank         = Colonel
|unit         =
|commands     =
|battles      = [[Vietnam War]]
|awards       =  [[Bronze Star]] (2) [[Image:Bronze Star Medal ribbon.svg|35px]]
|military_blank1 =
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}}

'''Robert Ruhl "Rob" Simmons''' (born February 11, 1943) is an American politician and retired U.S. Army colonel who served as a member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 2001 to 2007, representing [[Connecticut's 2nd congressional district]] as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Rob Simmons|url=http://www.registercitizen.com/articles/2010/08/07/news/election/senate/doc4c5c608eb2a4a524437594.txt|accessdate=August 14, 2010|newspaper=The Register Citizen|date=August 7, 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313020150/http://www.registercitizen.com/articles/2010/08/07/news/election/senate/doc4c5c608eb2a4a524437594.txt|archivedate=March 13, 2012}}</ref>

Simmons unsuccessfully ran as a candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator from Connecticut in 2010.

Simmons was formerly Chairman of the [[Yankee Institute for Public Policy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yankeeinstitute.org/about/|title=About – Yankee Institute for Public Policy|publisher=|access-date=2014-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914133916/http://www.yankeeinstitute.org/about/|archive-date=2014-09-14|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 3, 2015, he was elected [[First Selectman]] in his hometown of [[Stonington, Connecticut]], which he once represented in Congress.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theday.com/article/20150825/NWS05/150829537|title=Rob Simmons: Former congressman, selectman candidate, purveyor of corn|publisher=|access-date=2015-11-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225104005/http://www.theday.com/article/20150825/NWS05/150829537|archive-date=2015-12-25|url-status=live}}</ref> He defeated the incumbent, George Crouse.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wnpr.org/post/rob-simmons-wins-big-stonington-election |title=Rob Simmons Wins Big in Stonington Election |date=4 November 2015 |access-date=2018-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619213934/http://wnpr.org/post/rob-simmons-wins-big-stonington-election |archive-date=2018-06-19 |url-status=live }}</ref> He did not seek reelection in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://fox61.com/2019/07/19/stonington-first-selectman-rob-simmons-not-running-for-reelection/ |title=Stonington First Selectman Rob Simmons not running for reelection |date=19 July 2019 |access-date=2019-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106080122/https://fox61.com/2019/07/19/stonington-first-selectman-rob-simmons-not-running-for-reelection/ |archive-date=2019-11-06 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Military career==
Simmons was born in [[New York City]] and attended [[Haverford College]], graduating in 1965. He enlisted in the [[United States Army]] as a private, serving in active duty from 1965 to 1969. He graduated from [[Officer Candidate School (U.S. Army)|Infantry Officer Candidate School]] in 1967 and became a commissioned officer. He fought in the [[Vietnam War]] and earned two [[Bronze Star Medal]]s for his service. He was in Vietnam for 19 months.<ref name="joinrobsimmons1">[http://www.joinrobsimmons.com/meet-rob-simmons Official Rob Simmons for Senate website – Rob Simmons Biography<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821055340/http://www.joinrobsimmons.com/meet-rob-simmons |date=2009-08-21 }}</ref>

Simmons served in the [[United States Army Reserve]] as a Military Intelligence Officer from 1969 to 2003, retiring at the rank of full colonel. He led the 434th Military Intelligence Detachment (Strategic) affiliated with [[Yale University]], and in this capacity led the writing of the "Open Source Intelligence Guide for the Military Intelligence Officer." Under his command, the unit was selected as the best small unit in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1996 by the Reserve Officers Association.<ref name="joinrobsimmons1"/>

==Early political career==
Simmons joined the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] in 1969, working as an Operations Officer for a decade, including five years on assignment overseas in East Asia. He ran the Phu Yen Province Interrogation Center from November 1970 to June 1972, according to an article by Douglas Valentine in ''Everything You Know is Wrong'', and he "mounted numerous paramilitary and psychological warfare operations against" the Viet Cong.<ref>{{cite book|last=Valentine|first=Douglas|title=Everything You Know is Wrong: The Disinformation Guide to Secrets and Lies|year=2002|publisher=Disinformation Company|isbn=978-0-9713942-0-9|editor=Russ Kick|page=[https://archive.org/details/everythingyoukno00kick/page/40 40]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/everythingyoukno00kick/page/40}}</ref> Simmons was awarded the CIA's [[Agency Seal Medal]] in 1985. In 1979, he earned a [[Master of Public Administration]] from [[Harvard]]'s [[John F. Kennedy School of Government]].

In 1979, he became a staff member for Senator [[John Chafee]] of [[Rhode Island]], and then the Staff Director for the [[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence]] in 1981 under the chairmanship of Senator [[Barry Goldwater]] (R-AZ).<ref name="congress1">{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S001152|title=SIMMONS, Robert (Rob) – Biographical Information|publisher=|access-date=2009-05-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803001057/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S001152|archive-date=2014-08-03|url-status=live}}</ref>

Simmons then became a professor of political science at Yale College and at the University of Connecticut. In 1991, he became a member of the [[Connecticut House of Representatives]], replacing incumbent Frank Turek who died in office.<ref>Associated Press. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103091273/ "Simmons wins Assembly election"], [[Hartford Courant]], June 27, 1991, page A14.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stoningtongop.org/our-story.html|title = Our Story}}</ref> He represented the 43rd district before running for Congress.<ref name="congress1"/><ref name="stonington-ct.gov">{{Cite web |url=http://www.stonington-ct.gov/board-of-selectmen/pages/rob-simmons-biography |title=Rob Simmons Biography &#124; Stonington CT |access-date=2018-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619190028/http://www.stonington-ct.gov/board-of-selectmen/pages/rob-simmons-biography |archive-date=2018-06-19 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==U.S. Congressional tenure==
===Overview===
[[Image:SimmonsPOW-MIA.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Rob Simmons at a POW–MIA memorial event in 2006]]
Simmons was a member of the [[House Armed Services Committee]] and was involved in issues concerning the district's major defense presence at the [[Electric Boat]] submarine shipyard in [[Groton, Connecticut|Groton]] and the nearby [[Naval Submarine Base New London]]. In 2005, the [[Base Realignment and Closure Commission]] (BRAC) targeted the United States Navy's [[Groton, Connecticut|Groton]] submarine base for closure. Simmons led the successful fight to save the base and the BRAC removed it from its closure list on August 24, 2005.

Simmons also served on the [[House Homeland Security Committee]] as chairman of the Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment. He was a strong advocate of improved intelligence-sharing among federal, state, and local authorities. Simmons also championed [[Open Source Intelligence]] (OSINT) on Capital Hill, where he helped to legally define open source intelligence in the 2006 National Defense Authorization Act, requiring the Department of Defense to establish an OSINT program.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dod.mil/dodgc/olc/docs/PL109-163.pdf |title=Sec. 931 of Public Law 109-163, entitled, "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006"<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2018-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329142915/http://www.dod.mil/dodgc/olc/docs/PL109-163.pdf |archive-date=2017-03-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He also spearheaded an effort to establish an open source intelligence unit at the [[Department of Homeland Security]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cq.com/public/20050621B_homeland.html|title=CQ.com – Login|publisher=|access-date=2009-05-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194723/http://www.cq.com/public/20050621B_homeland.html|archive-date=2007-09-27|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Electoral history===
'''[[Connecticut's 2nd congressional district]], 2000''':<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=331 |title=CT District 02 Race – November 07, 2000 |publisher=Our Campaigns |date= |accessdate=2010-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614103920/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=331 |archive-date=June 14, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''Rob Simmons''' (R) – 114,380 (50.63%)
* [[Sam Gejdenson]] (D) – 111,520 (49.37%)

'''[[Connecticut's 2nd congressional district]], 2002''':<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=1026 |title=CT District 02 Race – November 05, 2002 |publisher=Our Campaigns |date= |accessdate=2010-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614104000/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=1026 |archive-date=June 14, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''Rob Simmons''' (R) – 117,434 (54.09%)
* [[Joe Courtney (politician)|Joe Courtney]] (D) – 99,674 (45.91%)

'''[[Connecticut's 2nd congressional district]], 2004''':<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=4066 |title=CT District 02 Race – November 02, 2004 |publisher=Our Campaigns |date= |accessdate=2010-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614104024/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=4066 |archive-date=June 14, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''Rob Simmons''' (R) – 165,558 (54.18%)
* Jim Sullivan (D) – 139,987 (45.82%)

'''[[Connecticut's 2nd congressional district]], 2006''':
* '''Joe Courtney''' (D) – 121,248 (50.02%)
* Rob Simmons (R) – 121,165 (49.98%)

===Elections===
In 2000, Simmons ran for the [[United States House of Representatives]] defeating ten-term [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] incumbent [[Sam Gejdenson]] by only 2,000 votes.

Despite being in the most Democratic GOP-held seat in the nation and being targeted by the [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]] as a possible pickup in 2002, Simmons fought off a challenge from Democrat [[Joe Courtney (politician)|Joe Courtney]], a former state representative from [[Vernon, Connecticut|Vernon]], winning 54% to 46%.

In 2004, Simmons defeated his Democratic challenger, [[Norwich, Connecticut|Norwich]] [[City Councilman]] Jim Sullivan, by a margin of 54% to 46%.

In 2005, the [[National Republican Congressional Committee|NRCC]] listed Simmons as one of their most vulnerable members and his seat was widely seen as a possible Democratic pickup in 2006. Courtney was once again the Democratic nominee in 2006 and the race was considered a toss-up.

On election night Simmons trailed Courtney by 167 votes out of over 242,000 votes cast. This margin was small enough to trigger an automatic recount under Connecticut law. During this recount, elections officials discovered several errors in the original vote. The recount concluded on November 14 giving Courtney an 83-vote victory over Simmons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.courant.com/|title=Page Not Found – Hartford Courant|publisher=|access-date=2006-11-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040113021137/http://www.courant.com/|archive-date=2004-01-13|url-status=live}}</ref>

As Simmons fared far better than other defeated Republican incumbents it was speculated he would try for a political comeback in 2008, which he did not rule out in conceding the 2006 election to Courtney. However, on March 4, 2007, on an episode of Face the State, he stated that he would not challenge Courtney in 2008. Simmons was the last Republican to garner even 40 percent of the vote in this district until 2022.{{citation needed | date=November 2023}}

==Post congressional career==
===Business advocate===
On February 26, 2007, Simmons was nominated by Connecticut Governor [[M. Jodi Rell]] to become the State's first Business Advocate.<ref>http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/m-news+article+storyid-20043.html {{dead link|date=August 2010}}</ref> The Office of the Business Advocate was established as part of the Governor's 2006 "Jobs for the 21st Century" Act (PA 06-83), for the purpose of providing centralized assistance to businesses in the state, and to pro-actively provide assistance to businesses of broader economic significance to the State.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/ACT/PA/2006PA-00083-R00SB-00702-PA.htm|title=AN ACT CONCERNING JOBS FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY.|publisher=|access-date=2007-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321080237/http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/ACT/PA/2006PA-00083-R00SB-00702-PA.htm|archive-date=2007-03-21|url-status=live}}</ref> He served until December 2008.<ref name="stonington-ct.gov"/>

===2010 U.S. Senate campaign===
{{main|2010 United States Senate election in Connecticut}}

On March 15, 2009, Simmons announced his intention to challenge Senator [[Chris Dodd]] for the United States Senate in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-ap-ct-simmons-doddmar15,0,3135783.story |title=Topic Galleries |publisher=Courant.com |accessdate=2010-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406004308/http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-ap-ct-simmons-doddmar15,0,3135783.story |archive-date=2009-04-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A May 2009 poll showed Simmons leading Dodd by six points,<ref>{{cite web |author=Quinnipiac University – Office of Public Affairs |url=http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1296.xml?ReleaseID=1301 |title=Connecticut (CT) Poll * May 27, 2009 * Dodd Gains On Challenger, But – Quinnipiac University – Hamden, Connecticut |publisher=Quinnipiac.edu |date=2009-05-27 |accessdate=2010-08-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918085600/http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1296.xml?ReleaseID=1301 |archivedate=September 18, 2010 }}</ref> with the lead growing to 13 points in a December 2009 poll.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/connecticut/election_2010_connecticut_senate_race |title= Election 2010: Connecticut Senate Race - Rasmussen Reports™|website=www.rasmussenreports.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914040659/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/connecticut/election_2010_connecticut_senate_race |archive-date=September 14, 2009}}</ref> Sen. Chris Dodd however announced in January 2010 that he would not be seeking re-election to the U.S. Senate due to high pressure from the Democratic Party leaders, falling poll numbers, and controversy over business dealings with Countrywide Financial.

While Simmons originally led in the polls early on, [[Linda McMahon]] gained traction on him in the primary and won at the Republican convention.<ref>{{cite web |author=Quinnipiac University – Office of Public Affairs |url=http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1296.xml?ReleaseID=1433 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322195015/http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1296.xml?ReleaseID=1433 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-03-22 |title=Connecticut (CT) Poll * March 17, 2010 * McMahon Wrestles To The Top In – Quinnipiac University – Hamden, Connecticut |publisher=Quinnipiac.edu |date=2010-03-17 |accessdate=2010-08-14 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/connecticut/election_2010_connecticut_senate |title=Election 2010: Connecticut Senate – Rasmussen Reports |publisher=Rasmussenreports.com |date= |accessdate=2010-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411051623/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/connecticut/election_2010_connecticut_senate |archive-date=2010-04-11 |url-status=live }}</ref> McMahon, a billionaire, spent more than $22 million through the primary, while Simmons spent under $3 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/HSProcessCandList.do;jsessionid=2871DE1165B1B3410FDF83077F084603.worker1?category=stateS_all&stateName=CT&election_yr=2010 |title=2010 House and Senate Candidate List |publisher=Fec.gov |accessdate=2010-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820050739/http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/HSProcessCandList.do |archive-date=2009-08-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  Simmons was deeply disappointed by his loss and later suspended his campaign. In late July – two weeks before the primary – however, he re-entered the race by airing TV ads, participating in debates, and accepting interviews with editorial boards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/07/28/washington-wire-qa-rob-simmons|title=Washington Wire Q&A: Rob Simmons|last=Davis|first=Susan|publisher=The Wall Street Journal (blog)|date=July 28, 2010|accessdate=July 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100730050228/http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/07/28/washington-wire-qa-rob-simmons/|archive-date=July 30, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Simmons, however, went on to lose the primary to McMahon.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/McMahon-sweeps-to-victory-in-GOP-Senate-race-610694.php|title=McMahon sweeps to victory in GOP Senate race|author=Neil Vigdor and Brian Lockhart|newspaper=[[Connecticut Post]]|date=August 11, 2010|accessdate=August 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817041113/http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/McMahon-sweeps-to-victory-in-GOP-Senate-race-610694.php|archive-date=August 17, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> General election polls showed Simmons as the more electable candidate,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rob-simmons-suspends-connecticut-senate-republican-primary-campaign/|title=Rob Simmons Suspends Connecticut Senate Republican Primary Campaign|website=[[CBS News]]|date=25 May 2010 |publisher=|access-date=2016-12-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220110438/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rob-simmons-suspends-connecticut-senate-republican-primary-campaign/|archive-date=2016-12-20|url-status=live}}</ref> and McMahon would lose the election by 12%.

== Later career ==
In 2014, he controversially endorsed Democrat [[Andrew M. Maynard|Andrew Maynard]] for re-election to the Connecticut State Senate, despite the fact that Maynard was incapable of fulfilling his duties due to a brain injury that he had suffered. This was done so that Senator Maynard would be able to enjoy the retirement benefits of a state employee, which he otherwise would not have been entitled to as a four-term senator. On the Lee Elcee Show radio program, Simmons reflected on how Maynard had introduced his daughter and her husband. [https://www.courant.com/opinion/op-ed/hc-op-rennie-connecticut-senator-maynard-injuries-raise-concerns-1116-20141113-column.html]

===Stonington First Selectman===
In 2015, Simmons was elected First Selectman of [[Stonington, Connecticut]]. He was sworn into office on November 16, 2015.<ref name="stonington-ct.gov"/> In 2019, he did not seek reelection for First Selectman. He was succeeded by Danielle Chesebrough.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/stonington/stonington-makes-history-by-electing-three-women-to-board-of/article_f4ef465c-0005-11ea-995c-37a0f8dcacbf.html |title=Stonington makes history by electing three women to Board of Selectmen |date=6 November 2019 |access-date=2019-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106080125/https://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/stonington/stonington-makes-history-by-electing-three-women-to-board-of/article_f4ef465c-0005-11ea-995c-37a0f8dcacbf.html |archive-date=2019-11-06 |url-status=live }}</ref> She took over on November 18, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theday.com/local-news/20191105/chesebrough-becomes-first-woman-to-lead-stonington |title=Chesebrough becomes first woman to lead Stonington |access-date=2019-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106080125/https://www.theday.com/local-news/20191105/chesebrough-becomes-first-woman-to-lead-stonington |archive-date=2019-11-06 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Simmons is married to the former Edith Heidi Paffard. They have a son, Robert, and a daughter, Jane.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} He is an [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]].<ref>{{Cite web | title=wfn.org {{!}} [ENS] Mainline leaders urge Congress to reject budget cuts | url=https://archive.wfn.org/2006/01/msg00281.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210153146/https://archive.wfn.org/2006/01/msg00281.html | access-date=2024-12-27 | archive-date=2023-12-10}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{CongBio|S001152}}
* {{C-SPAN|28223}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160220120509/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/S001152/ Voting record maintained by the Washington Post]
* [http://ctconservative.blogspot.com/2006/06/interview-with-representative-rob.html Connecticut Conservative Interview with Simmons]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090511053523/http://www.joinrobsimmons.com/ Rob Simmons for US Senate] U.S. Senate campaign website

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-ct-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=	Frank Turek}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[Connecticut House of Representatives]]<br />from the [[Connecticut's 43rd assembly district|43rd]] district|years=1991–2001}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Diana Urban]]}}
|-
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Sam Gejdenson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States Representatives from Connecticut|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br />from [[Connecticut's 2nd congressional district]]|years=2001–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Joe Courtney (politician)|Joe Courtney]]}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=George Crouse}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[First Selectman]] of [[Stonington, Connecticut]]|years=2015–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=Danielle Chesebrough}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[James H. Maloney]]|as=Former US Representative}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br />''{{small|as Former US Representative}}''|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Elizabeth Esty]]|as=Former US Representative}}
{{s-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simmons, Rob}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:American Episcopalians]]
[[Category:Christians from Connecticut]]
[[Category:Haverford College alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the Connecticut House of Representatives]]
[[Category:People of the Central Intelligence Agency]]
[[Category:Politicians from New York City]]
[[Category:United States Army officers]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Agency Seal Medal]]
[[Category:21st-century Connecticut politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Connecticut General Assembly]]