Major General Robert Francis Durkin[1][2] of the United States Air Force was Director of Defense Mapping Agency from October 1987 to June 1990.

As director, Durkin restructured the Defense Mapping Agency's international and domestic training in the production and exploitation of geospatial information.

[4][5] When he returned to the United States in November 1967, General Durkin was assigned as a test and deployment officer with Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

He remained in Washington, D.C., for four years before moving to Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota; as chief of the Operations and Training Division, 28th Bombardment Wing.

[4][5] Major General Robert F. Durkin became director of Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) in October 1987; a position which he held till June 1990.

Phase I (Mark 85) of the DPS upgraded DMA's film-based production system and provided an initial digital exploitation capability using new source materials.