Rob became President of the Chesapeake Conference in December of 2005 after ten years serving as Conference Secretary, Ministerial Secretary, and Communication Director. Prior to the beginning of the administrative phase of his ministry, Rob was Senior Pastor of Chesapeake’s largest church—the Spencerville Church—for a dozen years.

Born in Hinsdale, Illinois, Rob grew up in the Chicago area before moving to Denver, Colorado as a teenager. His parents worked at Adventist hospitals in both Hinsdale and Denver. He met his wife Judy at Union College in the early ‘70s. He holds degrees in theology from both Union College and Andrews University. He began his pastoral ministry in Denver in 1971 and served pastorates in Colorado and Minnesota before coming to Chesapeake in 1984.

Rob enjoys a round of golf when his schedule allows. Judy, when not working as a registered nurse in the short stay surgical unit at WashingtonAdventistHospital, loves to share her music ministry of singing while accompanying herself on a folk harp. Rob and Judy have two grown children. Their married daughter, Keri Tomenko, lives in Takoma Park, Maryland and teaches the violin. She and her husband, Deric, presented the Vandemans with their first grandchild, Nikolai, in July. Their son, Kevin, still lives at home while he pursues a master’s degree in architecture at the University of Maryland.