Dr. Robert Taft, DDS, FACP

Dr. Taft received his D.D.S. degree from Emory University School of Dentistry in 1983.  He entered the Navy in 1983 following graduation and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the U. S. Navy Dental Corps.

Following graduation, Dr. Taft’s first duty station was a one-year general practice residency (GPR) at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Portsmouth Va.  In July of 1984 he reported to Naval Communication Station San Miguel in the Philippines as Department Head for Dental Services.  His next duty station was at Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine, where he served as the clinic Prosthodontist and Division Officer.

In 1988, Dr. Taft entered the Prosthodontic residency program at the Naval Postgraduate School in Bethesda, MD receiving a certificate in 1990.   Dr. Taft then entered a fellowship program in Maxillofacial Prosthetics at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX receiving a certificate in 1992.  Following his specialty training, Dr. Taft served in various clinical and leadership positions at Naval Medical Center San Diego, CA.  Dr. Taft next served as Chairman and Program Director for the Maxillofacial Prosthetics Fellowship Officer program, Naval Postgraduate Dental School from 1997 – 2001 and later as professor in the Naval Postgraduate Prosthodontics Residency Program, 2002.  He then was assigned to the Navy Medicine Education and Training Command, Bethesda, MD, as Director, Graduate Programs and was the Medical Joint-Service Education Director, for the 2005 BRAC process. Dr. Taft served as Dean of the Naval Postgraduate Dental School and Specialty Leader to the Surgeon General for Postgraduate Dental Education from June 2006 to June 2011, Deputy Chief, United States Navy Dental Corps from June 2011 to June 2013, Department Chair, Prosthodontics, Naval Postgraduate Dental School from June 2013 to June 2016, Chairman, Comprehensive Dentistry Department, UT Health, San Antonio, School of Dentistry, San Antonio Texas from July 2016 to Jan 2020 , Professor, Interim Program Director, Graduate Prosthodontics, Comprehensive Dentistry Department,  UT Health, San Antonio, School of Dentistry from Jan 2020 to Aug 2022..

Dr. Taft is a Diplomate, Board Examiner and Past President of the American Board of Prosthodontics, Fellow/Past President of the American College of Prosthodontists, Fellow, Academy of Prosthodontics, Past President of the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics, Director of ADT North America, CODA site visitor, and past Specialty Leader to the Surgeon General for Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Implant Dentistry.  His personal awards include two Legions of Merit, three Meritorious Service medals, two Navy Commendation medals and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals, Professor Emeritus, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Presidents Exceptional Service Award, Deans Award for Teaching Excellence, Andrew J. Ackerman Award, Judson C. Hickey Scientific Writing Award (JPD), Educator of the Year (ACP 2021) and the ACP Presdent’s award 2023.