Rob grew up in Vancouver, WA and graduated from Columbia River High School in 1982 with cum laude honors. He then graduated from Linfield College in 1986 with cum laude honors. While at Linfield, Rob was a member the 1982 and 1984 National Championship Football Teams (Rob was a cornerback and punt returner. Go 'Cats!) At Linfield, Rob obtained double dual majors in Business, Mathematics and Computer Science. In 1989, Rob obtained his Juris Doctor from the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark in Portland, OR.