Rear Admiral(ret) Robert William Higgs SM MMM SAN (Rtd) (7 July 1957, King Williams Town)[2] is a former-South African Navy officer, who served as Chief of Naval Staff from 1 November 2010 to 31 August 2016.

After matriculating from Grey High School in Port Elizabeth,[1] he joined the Navy in 1976 as a midshipman, graduating from the South African Naval College in 1978 before attending the South African Military Academy, obtaining a BMil (BSc).

[2] In 1994 he became the first SA Navy officer to attend the US Naval War College.

He then obtained a master's degree in International Relations from Salve Regina University in May 1996.

[2] In February 2005 he was promoted to rear admiral (jg) and appointed as Director of Maritime Warfare.