Robert Certain was born in Savannah, Georgia in December 1947. An alumnus of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Maryland, he attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, graduating in 1969 with a BA degree in History and a commission in the US Air Force. As a B-52 navigator he flew 100 missions over Southeast Asia in 1971 and 1972. He was shot down and captured in December 1972, the first night of the Linebacker II campaign; and repatriated when the war ended a few months later.

Following the Vietnam War, he attended the School of Theology, an Episcopal Church seminary in Sewanee, Tennessee, and was ordained as a priest in 1976 after he received his Master of Divinity degree. In 1990, he was awarded his Doctor of Ministry degree from the School of Theology.

In his capacity as a military chaplain, he served as a chaplain in the Air Force on active duty at Andrews AFB (now Joint Base Andrews), MD and in the reserves in various locations, including basic military training, at the headquarters of the Strategic Air Command and Air Mobility Command, and at the Air Force Academy. He is also a graduate of the Air War College. He retired from the Air Force Reserves in 1999 at the rank of Colonel.

Father Certain served parishes in Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arizona, California and Georgia before retiring from parish ministry in 2012. Beginning in 2007 he served on the Defense Health Board, on its committees on psychological health and medical ethics, and on the DOD Task Force for the Prevention of Suicide by Members of the Armed Forces. He also served on the VA Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War from 2008-2018 and as its chairman for five years.

From 2012-2015 he was the Executive Director of the Military Chaplains Association of the USA. In 2014 he was elected to a six-year term on the Board of Directors of the Military Officers Association of America, where he also served as the national chaplain. He is a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and served as the National Chaplain for several years. He was inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame in 2014. In 2019 he was elected National Commander of the American Ex-Prisoners of War.

Robert published his autobiography, Unchained Eagle in 2003.

When former President Gerald R. Ford died in late 2006, Father Certain led all the memorial services and presided at his burial in Michigan.

Robert is married to the former Robbie Wade of Blytheville, Arkansas. They have two grown children and two grandchildren. Robert and Robbie make their home in San Antonio, Texas.