Proposal:
Robert Kirkland got a major face change operation done
- sometime before Jane joined the CBI
(we see him with his familiar face at that time, in episode #100: Red Dawn)

That is why he's seeking out people who knew him before and asks them if they recognize his face, now that he's been moving around in public.
(If you look at season 2, episode 8, you will see Minelli go to meet what looks like agent Kirkland at the gates of the CBI parking lot, right after Minellis 'horse's assery' speech, once he's talked a bit with Lisbon. It is easy to overlook, and the blurred and distant scene is probably suggesting the level of cautious discretion with which Kirkland let his appearance be seen, back in those bygone days.)

Take note, that in spite of Kirklands claim to be searching for RJ, he never shows up at the CBI to interrogate Lorelei. He only showed up at the CBI when Lorelie was no longer there, and thus can't threaten to identify him as RJ. [except if she gets caught again, or talks] Only once she kills an old helper of RJ, he then gets personally involved in the manhunt for her.

[This is a simplified version of theory combo 11112]