Sir Robert Cockburn was born in Portsmouth, in 1909, and educated at Southern Secondary School and Municipal College, Portsmouth, and the University of London.

He taught science at West Ham Municipal College, 1930-37. He then joined the Scientific Civil Service at Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, 1937-39 (where he led the team that developed the VHF communications system for air to ground communications which played a vital part in the Battle of Britain) and at the Telecommunications Research Establishment in Swanage, and later Malvern, Worcestershire, 1939-45 (where he led the team charged with devising countermeasures to fool enemy radar systems, including "bending the beams" and the development of "window" or "chaff"). He played the major role in planning the spoof attack across the Channel on D-Day that so confused the enemy that they failed to concentrate their forces to overcome the Allied landings of D-Day in 1944.

He remained in the Civil Service after the war, joining the Atomic Energy Authority team at Harwell, 1945-8. In 1948 he returned to Defence work where he held senior positions including: Scientific Adviser to Air Ministry, 1948-53; Principal Director of Scientific Research (Guided Weapons and Electronics), Ministry of Supply, 1954-55; Deputy Controller and (from 1956) Controller of Guided Weapons and Electronics, Ministry of Supply, 1955-59; Chief Scientist of Ministry of Aviation, 1959–64; and Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Aviation and Director of the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, 1964-9.

On his retirement he was appointed a Senior Research Fellow, Churchill College, Cambridge, 1970-77; and Chairman, National Computing Centre, 1970-77.

He was awarded the OBE in 1946, the Congressional Medal for Merit, 1947, CB in 1953, and KBE in 1960. He died in March 1994.