An practitioner turned expert.

Frontline perspective. Frontline work taught me that decisions are often made under pressure, with incomplete information, competing demands, and real-world constraints that policy alone cannot capture.

What records reveal. Leading agencies taught me that records are essential evidence—but not a perfect reconstruction of events. They show what was documented, which is not always everything that was known, considered, or
communicated.

Policy versus practice. Policy establishes expectations; practice shows how those expectations actually operate within an organization. Understanding the difference is critical to evaluating agency performance.

How decisions get made. Agency decisions rarely occur in isolation. They reflect the interaction of workers, supervisors, leadership, courts, providers, policies, resources, and organizational systems.

Avoiding hindsight. A fair review evaluates decisions based on what was reasonably knowable at the time—not what became clear after the outcome was known.

Expert independence. My role is not to advocate for either side. It is to follow the evidence and offer objective opinions grounded in professional standards, experience, and the circumstances of the case.

Today, Bobby is President and CEO of Cagle Consulting and principal of its expert-witness service line, serving courts, attorneys, and agencies nationwide.

The practice is guided by four principles developed over decades of practice: authenticity and compassion, approachability and engagement, respect and openness, and integrity and rigor.

Selected awards and fellowships across child welfare, early learning, philanthropy, and community corrections — spanning four decades of practice.

Initial consultations are conducted at no cost and under privilege, typically scheduled within seventy-two hours of intake. Engagements accepted nationally, in state and federal forums.