Scott Anderson announced as Exec. Dir. of Forge Institute
Key Facts
Forge Institute announces Scott Anderson, retired Major in the United States Air Force and a career Cyber Operator and Intelligence Officer as the Executive Director of Forge Institute
Scott brings a vast knowledge and expertise in cyberspace operations, cybersecurity, intelligence operations, and in developing partnerships between the private and public sectors.
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS (April 2, 2020) - Today Forge Institute, a non-profit think tank designed to develop and enable innovative private-public collaborations to support national security initiatives, announces the hiring of Scott Anderson to fill the role of Executive Director for the Forge Institute.
The Forge Institute team developed the American Cyber Alliance in 2018, as a private-public partnership to reduce cyber risks through programs in innovation and workforce development and by supporting intel-led cyber operations. Lee Watson, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Forge Institute, led the creation of the Forge Institute in an effort to build and expand cybersecurity partnerships with local and regional businesses and state and federal government entities. “I’m excited to welcome Scott as he takes the reins as Executive Director and builds upon the enormous success and traction since launch. Scott’s background, as a senior intelligence officer and cybersecurity expert makes him the perfect choice to integrate cyber innovation and training programs with a particular focus on operationalizing cybersecurity through intelligence lead capabilities.”
Major Scott Anderson recently retired after twenty-four years of military service. He grew up in southern Washington and in 1996, joined the United States Air Force. After 8 years of Active Duty, he joined the Arkansas Air National Guard where he transitioned from an enlisted airman to a commissioned officer. Most recently, Scott was the Commander of the 223rd Cyberspace Operations Squadron of the 189th Airlift Wing. Scott led the creation of the 223rd as a first-of-its-kind organization to train cyber operators, under a direct request from the Secretary of the Air Force. Scott has served in positions, such as: Intelligence Mission Operations Commander, Cybersecurity Subject Matter Expert, Chief of Standards and Evaluations, Security SME, and as a Senior Intelligence Officer. Upon retirement, Scott was awarded numerous accolades, including three Meritorious Service Medals. Scott has numerous degrees, including a MS in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas. During his Air Force career he was deployed to Columbia in support of counter drug operations and Haiti after the earthquake. He also supported Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
“I am honored and excited to accept this position with Forge Institute to lead the Forge Institute. In today’s challenging times, it’s important for all of us to remain ever vigilant and to build the required cybersecurity capabilities necessary to defend our companies, our communities and our country. The Forge Institute has numerous training courses, events and other opportunities that support our partners and stakeholders and I look forward to working with each of you.”- Scott Anderson.
The American Cyber Alliance (ACA) is a program of Forge Institute formed to reduce cyber risks by furthering trust and increasing collaborations, to develop innovative new solutions and provide for advancements in workforce education. The ACA’s Advanced Cyber Threat Analysis Platform enables our partners to identify and mitigate unknown cyber risks, leveraging open source and government-derived information. Learn more at: https://www.AmericanCyberAlliance.com.
