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Robert DuBois Workman (June 7, 1885 – June 20, 1977) was the U.S. Navy chief of chaplains during most of World War II from 1937 to 1945 and oversaw an increase of chaplains from less than 90 to more than 2800. He was of the 
Workman received a temporary wartime promotion to rear admiral on January 10, 1945. He reverted to his permanent rank of captain when he was reassigned as chaplain for the Third Naval District on August 8, 1945. When Workman retired from the Navy on May 1, 1947, he was advanced to rear admiral on the retired list. Workman lived in
Presbyterian
Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...
faith. Workman was the first Chief of Chaplains to be promoted to rear admiral
Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...
while still on active duty.
On February 28, 1905, Workman enlisted in the Marine Corps. He served four years there before enrolling at the College of Wooster. Workman graduated in 1913 and then entered the Princeton Theological Seminary. In May 1915, he entered the chaplain corps as a lieutenant junior grade. Workman served aboard the USS ''Ohio'', the USS ''Florida'', the USS ''Mohican'', the USS ''North Dakota'', the USS ''Maryland'', the USS ''California'', and the USS ''Nevada''. He was promoted to captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
on August 25, 1924.
Workman received a temporary wartime promotion to rear admiral on January 10, 1945. He reverted to his permanent rank of captain when he was reassigned as chaplain for the Third Naval District on August 8, 1945. When Workman retired from the Navy on May 1, 1947, he was advanced to rear admiral on the retired list. Workman lived in La Jolla, California
La Jolla ( , ) is a hilly, seaside neighborhood within the city of San Diego, California, United States, occupying of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean. The population reported in the 2010 census was 46,781.
La Jolla is surrounded on ...
after retirement.
He died on June 20, 1977, at the Chester County Hospital in West Chester, Pennsylvania
West Chester is a borough and the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania. Located within the Philadelphia metropolitan area, the borough had a population of 18,461 at the 2010 census. West Chester is the mailing address for most of its neighb ...
, at the age of 92. Workman and his wife Elisabeth Stewart Workman (December 8, 1891 – June 27, 1983) are buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...
.
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