Former Chancellor Father Robert R. Cannon, Ch Col USAF (Ret.), Receives Papal Honors

WASHINGTON, DC — Father Robert R. Cannon is now “the Reverend Monsignor” Robert R. Cannon.

The Holy See recently bestowed the honorary ecclesiastical title on the retired U.S. Air Force chaplain and former chancellor of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), for exceptional service to the Catholic Church. Msgr. Cannon stepped down as AMS chancellor last month after eight years of service to pursue a doctorate in canon law. He has been succeeded as chancellor by retired U.S. Army Colonel Anita Raines.

His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, announced Pope Francis’ decision to designate Msgr. Cannon a “Chaplain of His Holiness,” a papal honor that carries the title of “Monsignor.” Archbishop Broglio said: “I am deeply grateful to Father Cannon for his distinguished service as a chaplain and most recently as the Chancellor of the Archdiocese. He suggested that I prepare for his succession before the conclusion of his second term. It is typical of his ministry that he looks ahead. I am also glad that he will be able to dedicate most of his time to the completion of his contribution to canonical studies with his dissertation. It is significant that Pope Francis has numbered him among his chaplains.”

The news caught Msgr. Cannon by surprise. “When Archbishop Broglio came into the Chancellor's office a couple of weeks ago,” he said, “I stood up along with Col. Raines, my successor. He said ‘Good afternoon, Chancellor.’ Then he looked at me and said, ‘Monsignor Cannon.’ At first, I thought that he was being lighthearted with his greeting. Then he repeated, ‘Monsignor Cannon.’ Then, I realized that he was not kidding but serious. I am both very humbled and grateful to Archbishop Broglio for submitting my name for consideration of the honor.” He added, “the honor symbolically recognizes all our hardworking AMS priests serving military members, families, and veterans.”

Msgr. Cannon was ordained on May 13, 1978 in the Diocese of St, Petersburg, FL. He was commissioned as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserves in 1986 in Rome, Italy. At the request of the Air Force Chief of Chaplains, he began staffing assistance tours in 2003 and acceded to active duty in 2010. He has served in multiple roles as both a staff chaplain and a Wing Chaplain.

Msgr. Cannon served at Aviano Air Base (AB), Italy, from 1986 to 1990; MacDill Air Force Base (AFB), FL, from 1990 to 1993; the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado from 1993 to 1997; the Readiness and Mobility Division, Air Combat Command, Langley, VA, from 1997 to 2001; the Office of the Chief of Chaplains at Bolling AFB in Washington, DC, from 2001 to 2009; Scott AFB, IL, from 2009 to 2010; and Shaw AFB, SC, from 2010 to 2011. He has served as Wing Chaplain at Travis AFB in California from March 2011 until Archbishop Broglio appointed him AMS Chancellor in 2016.

For his service as the Joint Area Support Command Chaplain (JASG-C), Baghdad, Iraq, Msgr. Cannon was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, and upon his 2016 retirement from the Air Force, the Legion of Merit medal. His other military decorations include: the Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Award with one oak cluster, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with one oak cluster, the Air Force Longevity Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” device, and the Air Force Training Ribbon.

A graduate of both the Squadron Officer School (1996) and the Air War College (2007), Msgr. Cannon earned his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy in 1974 from St. Vincent De Paul Seminary in Boynton Beach, FL. He holds four master’s degrees: A Master of Education in Guidance/Counseling from Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL (1977); a Master of Divinity from St. Vincent De Paul Major Seminary, Boynton Beach, FL (1977); a Master of Theology, also from St. Vincent De Paul Major Seminary (1978); and a Master of Arts in Urban Anthropology from the University of South Florida, Tampa (1986). Msgr. Cannon holds a License in Canon Law and a Diploma of Specialization in Jurisprudence from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He will finish his doctoral studies at the School of Canon Law at The Catholic University of America.

In civilian life, Msgr. Cannon served as Parochial Vicar at St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Clearwater, FL, from 1978 to 1979; School Pastor at Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, FL, from 1979 to 1984; Dean of Students and Adjunct Professor of Social Sciences at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami from 1984 to 1986; Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Venice, FL, from 1990 to 2002; and Rector of Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, FL, from 1999 to 2003.