Sprague was appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to serve as Undersecretary to the Air Force in 1953.

After graduating from The Hotchkiss School in 1918, Robert Sprague went to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis[1] like his father Frank, who was a business associate to Thomas Alva Edison.

[1] Sprague patented the paper condenser (capacitor) and tone control in 1926, and this provided the capital to start a business.

During his business life, Robert Sprague served on the board for the following organizations and businesses:[1] Other Notable Awards, Memberships and Appointments[3] Robert C. Sprague was the driving force behind the annual Williamstown Theatre Festival.

He was the author of two books ("Sprague Electric" of North Adams: a pioneer in electronics in New England, Newcomen Publishing (1958) and Parallel Skiing for Weekend Skiers, self-published (1970).