I write truth-based fiction and practical manuals shaped by thirty years in industrial automation. My stories blend technical authenticity with suspense, drawing on the real risks I've encountered in the field.
My novels explore the collisions between technology, compliance, and human ambition. My nonfiction speaks directly to technicians and engineers who need clear thinking, not theory. Both emerge from the same place: real problems, real stakes, real people.
Three Sides of the Same Work
Author
The Knox Ramsey thrillers, the Jackson Dahl noir mysteries, historical sagas, and the Boots on the Ground nonfiction series. Each explores the hidden machinery of power and survival.
Engineer
30+ years leading process control, automation, and system integration. 2 patents. CTO/COO at Molly's Grape & Citrus. Co-founder of Iris Automation.
Educator
Adjunct professor at Mid Michigan College. Mentor to students and practitioners. Author of guides for real-world problem solving.
Engineering Roots (1992–Present)
My career began in automated test equipment and process control. Over three decades, I've led teams at Fortune 500 companies and launched two ventures. But I've never stopped being a problem-solver at heart.
Every technical detail in my thrillers comes from real-world exposure: FSMA compliance failures, supply chain vulnerabilities, and the human cost of automation gone wrong. My characters face problems I've seen, bringing a layer of authenticity to the stories.
Key career milestones:
- 1992–2008: Engineering leadership at V I Engineering, Wineman Technology, Inergy Automotive, and H.E. Services. Specialized in test systems and control architecture.
- 2008–2019: Technical and group leadership at The Dow Chemical Company. Managed $4MM portfolio. Received Platinum Award. Co-invented patents on shrink film measurement.
- 2019–2023: Founded Iris Automation LLC. Won 2021 Michigan Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year. Developed REAP agricultural automation platform.
- 2023–Present: COO/CTO at Molly's Grape & Citrus Company. Leading digital transformation, ERP implementation, and PTL/FSMA 204 compliance.
From Engineering to Storytelling
Writing wasn't a detour—it was the next logical step. After decades solving problems in industrial settings, I realized the best way to capture what I know is through narrative. Stories stick. They change how people think. They raise questions that whitepapers never can.
The Knox Ramsey thrillers let me explore what happens when smart people meet systems they don't fully control. The Jackson Dahl mysteries bring a profiler's eye to cold cases in rural Michigan. The Long Road Home digs into the untold stories of frontier life. The Boots on the Ground series hands practical wisdom to the next generation of technicians.
All three come from the same instinct: Help readers understand something real.
Fiction Engineered from Fact
Born in 1970 and raised in the shadow of Flint, Michigan, I come from a family where the official story never told the whole truth—and survival was never guaranteed.
My maternal grandfather laid carpet in the homes of automotive titans by day while running a numbers operation from an I.M.A. cup-vending crib. It was a hush economy that taught me early: the official logs rarely match the real ones.
My paternal grandfather, denied education by a state that treated poverty as a holding cell, joined the Marines for 'three hots and a cot'. He survived Guadalcanal, came home, and built a life from scratch, eventually winning a downtown office building in a poker game. No inheritance. No trust fund. Just nerve.
My father, a decorated Vietnam combat veteran with the 1st Air Cavalry Division, jumped into hot landing zones in 1966. He never spoke much about it, but the weight of that experience was always there—a quiet intensity that now runs through every page I write.
Education
University of Michigan
B.S. Electronic Engineering
Minor in Computer Science / Political Science
Clio High School
Graduate, Class of 1988
Three generations collide in my work. I write the way I was raised—trust physics, not software. Verify with your own eyes. And never assume the system is on your side.
I founded Mangrove Publishing on that principle: Stories by blood and by choice. Rooted in craft. Grown in truth.
Away from the Keyboard
I'm based in Michigan, where I've lived long enough to appreciate lakes, winter, and the no-nonsense work ethic of the Midwest. As COO and CTO of Molly's Grape & Citrus Company, I lead a team transforming premium produce distribution through digital infrastructure and compliance systems.
I've taught adjunct at Mid Michigan College, mentored entrepreneurs, and advised on everything from ICS security to compliance strategy. I'm a recovering engineer who now spends half his time writing and half his time actually fixing things.
My Books
I write across three distinct categories—each telling a different kind of truth.
Thrillers (Knox
Ramsey Series)
Geopolitical intrigue, technology vulnerabilities, and the human cost of systems under attack. Book 1,
Dark Recipe, is available now.
Mystery / Noir
(Jackson Dahl PI)
A former FBI profiler works cold cases in rural Michigan. Standalone case files—short, sharp, and
unforgiving. Free to read online.
Historical
Fiction
The Long Road Home (in development) follows a family saga across westward expansion and
industrial revolution. Raw, grounded, and told through voices that matter.
Engineering &
Nonfiction
The Boots on the Ground series is written for technicians, engineers, and students. Real
problems. Real decision trees. No theory.
In the Press
WNEM TV5 — Saginaw, MI
Robert Cummer discusses Dark Recipe and why he started writing
February 20, 2026 · 4:00 PM EST
Midland Daily News
“Midlander Robert Cummer channels expertise, adversity into debut thriller ‘Dark Recipe’”
By Dan Chalk, Managing Editor · January 1, 2026
Read the Article →Get in Touch
Want to discuss a story idea or book club? I'm always open to conversations with readers and fellow problem-solvers.
