Mr. LaForrest Williams is the National Security Agency/Central Security Service, Senior Representative to the National Defense University (NCR/NDU) at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., and serves as a faculty member of the National War College (NWC). As a member of the faculty, he designs, develops, and conducts intelligence community elective courses and select core courses of the University. He also serves as a student advisor and participates in various academic programs. In addition, he is the point of contact for all NSA activities of interest to the University and a source of information and assistance to the Agency in the association with the University.
Mr. Williams graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration from San Jose State University in 1973 and an M.S. in Technology of Management (Information Systems) from The American University in 1987, and has completed U.S. Air Force Professional Military Education through and including the Air War College. He also completed the Intelligence Community Senior Leadership Program (ICSLP) in 2008. He is a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) and a graduate of USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training, and the KC-135 Combat Crew Training School. He completed the USAF, Air University Academic Instructors Course in 1996 and is also certified as a USAF Ground Technical Instructor.
Mr. Williams has served in a variety of leadership positions throughout his career that includes his tenure as the NSA/CSS Deputy Associate Director for Legislative Affairs, NSA Chief Information Officer (CIO), NSA Chief of Information Systems Policy, NSA Senior Representative to NORAD-USNORTHCOM (NCR/N-NC), and NSA Chief of Customer Assistance and Services in the Information Systems Security Organization (ISSO). He served the Air Force as Chief USEUCOM Information Assurance (J6I), Chief of the USEUCOM Alternate Support Headquarters (J3), and Headquarters USAF Manager of Base Level Computer Systems (Phase II). He is a Vietnam era veteran and has held numerous command positions to include a Tactical Air Command (TAC) Communications Group at Nellis AFB, a Communications Squadron in a remote overseas location in support of the U.S. Space Defense mission. He also served as the Department Chairman and Professor of Aerospace Studies at Howard University in Washington D.C.
Mr. Williams is a Defense Intelligence Senior Executive (DISES), and retired USAF Colonel with extensive leadership, academic, and management experience. He has myriad awards throughout his career that includes five awards of the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, an award of the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, The Legion Of Merit and the Strategic Air Command (SAC) Combat Readiness Medal. He is a rated USAF pilot in the KC-135 StratoTanker, a Master Communications Officer, a Basic Space Operations Officer, and a Certified Technical Instructor.
Mr. Williams has enjoyed martial arts in his leisure and has achieved the Brown Belt in Judo and Yellow Belt in Taekwondo. He enjoys bicycling, reading and is a licensed Commercial and Private Pilot. He and his wife Karen reside in Maryland and have raised five children. He hopes to eventually learn golf and sailing.
EMAIL: laforrest.williams@ndu.edu
