Lt. Col. John Scott was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Assumption University in Worcester and received his commission from Worcester Polytechnic Institute ROTC in 2006. Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and is concluding his master’s degree from Harvard University’s Extension School. His military education includes multiple surveillance courses, the Advanced Special Operations Techniques Course, Special Warfare Training Course, Interagency Operations Course, Interagency National Collaboration Course, and the Network Design Course.
After commissioning, Scott’s first assignment was with the 1st Infantry Division, which included a yearlong tour in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following that, Scott graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course, and was assigned to 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) as a Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (SFODA) Commander, including a tour to Afghanistan in 2013 during Operation Enduring Freedom; 4th Battalion, 7th SFG as a Detachment Commander and Operations Officer; U.S Embassy in Baghdad in support of the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve; Office of Special Warfare; U.S Embassy in Baghdad in support of interagency operations; interagency operations in Washington D.C.; 5th SFG (A) Company Commander within 4th Battalion; Iraq as the Sensitive Activities Director for Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force- Operations Inherent Resolve; Special Operations Forces Director at the National Training Center under United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC); and Future Operations Officer at Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) in Hawai'i prior to his arrival in Portland.
Scott’s military decorations include the Bronze Star (2nd Award), Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), Joint Service Commendation Medal (1st Award), Joint Service Achievement Medal (2nd Award), the Iraqi and Afghanistan Campaign Medals, the Special Forces Tab, the Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, and the Recruiter Badge.