Robert M Echols

Mr. Echols resides in Fairhope, Alabama, and since his retirement from Monsanto as Director of Business Conduct in late 2008 has been engaged in a variety of volunteer activities.

Currently Mr., Echols is a recognized influencer on the ethos of a reverence for life, blogging frequently on LinkedIn and authoring a four-volume treatise on the topic under the title: For Our Friends the Animals. 

Previously, Mr. Echols served as President and Founder of the For Our Friends the Animals Foundation, a nonprofit entity designed to provide financial support through grant awards to assist animal rescues, shelters and sanctuaries and like-minded institutions with their operating budget. The Foundation also provided grants to construct animal shelters and was the primary funding source for the erection of such facilities in Williston and Levy County, FL.

As mentioned, previously Mr. Echols was engaged in several volunteer activities in the Ocala, FL area including: serving as a long-term care ombudsman, guardian ad litem, a driver for Meals on Wheels, and as a Master Gardener.

Prior to his tenure at Monsanto Mr. Echols served as attorney and ethics officer for other DoD companies, and he also worked in philanthropic and consulting positions. From 1986 to 1990 Mr. Echols was civilian counsel and Designated Agency Ethics Official for the U.S. Army Security and Intelligence Command in Arlington Hall Station, Virginia, and before assuming his duties at the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command, Mr. Echols served as an active-duty JAG attorney in the U.S. Army JAG Corps at the United States Military Academy at West Point from 1982 to 1986. 

Mr. Echols grew up in Exeter, NH and was educated at the Phillips Exeter Academy. He received his B.A. from New York University and his J.D./M.B.A. from Emory University. Mr. Echols also served in the Army as an enlisted man from 1973 to 1976.