Scott A. Nelson serves as the Acting Principal Director for the Department of Defense Cyber Academic Engagement Office, Workforce Innovation Directorate, in the Office of the DoW Chief Information Officer.
Before this appointment, Mr. Nelson was the Senior Advisor to the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Cyber National Mission Force, U.S. Cyber Command. In this capacity, he led pivotal strategic transformation efforts for Army Information Operations forces and launched the 3-Star Total Army Information Council. He also developed the Academic Engagement Strategy and managed a $58M initiative to establish Cyber Institutes at Senior Military Colleges.
A veteran of 32 years, Colonel (Retired) Nelson's military career included extensive command and leadership roles in Cyber Operations and Information Warfare organizations. His service also includes command of multiple Reserve and Guard elements at U.S. Special Operations Command, NORAD, and U.S. Northern Command.
In the private sector, Mr. Nelson was an executive at Norwich University Applied Research Institutes and the cyber education startup SecureSet.
He holds a Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College and a master certification in Infrastructure Protection Management from the University of Washington. He is a trusted voice in national security, known for integrating strategy, education, and innovation across the cyber and information domains