Robert Plaschke

Robert “Bob” Plaschke – Chief Executive Officer, PepperBall®

Bob Plaschke directs PepperBall®, the distance-based non-lethal platform trusted by more than 20,000 law enforcement professionals and deployed in over 20 million field uses worldwide. He joined the company in 2021 and under his stewardship, PepperBall has broadened its product portfolio, emphasized the practical application of PepperBall in a daily patrol construct and accelerated international expansion.
A 30-year veteran of mission-critical technology, Plaschke previously spent fifteen years building Sonim Technologies into the public-safety standard for ultra-rugged LTE handsets. He took the firm from start-up concept to a NASDAQ listing and more than $100 million in annual revenue, serving as President, CEO, and later Chairman. He has also served on several technology and public-safety boards—including Enterprise Wireless Alliance, Mobility for Public Safety, and Padcaster.
Plaschke hosts “First Response,” an interview series that shines a spotlight on the thought leaders within the public safety industry and provide a platform for these individuals to share their experiences, insights, and the valuable lessons they've learned through their careers in law enforcement.
He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Northwestern University. Whether speaking at major law-enforcement conferences or recording the next podcast episode, Plaschke stays focused on one goal: to give law enforcement and public safety professionals the tools they need to resolve high-stakes situations safely.