Captain Forster is a native of Buena, New Jersey and a 2002 graduate of the United States Naval Academy where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He also holds a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
He is currently the Chief of the Force Development Division at the Missile Defense Agency, Fort Belvoir.
At sea, he served as the Repair Officer and Damage Control Assistance on USS TAYLOR (FFG 50), Training Officer on USS THE SULLIVANS (DDG 68), Electronics Warfare Officer for US Army 46th Engineering Construction Battalion and the United States Marine Corps Military, Police and Border Training Teams forward deployed to Al Anbar Province in Iraq. His department head experience includes assignments as the Operations Officer of USS STEPHEN W GROVES (FFG 29) and USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CG 58). He served as Executive Officer on USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CG 57) from August 2017 through August 2019 where the ship earned two Retention Excellence Awards, CNSP Tactics Award and the VADM Copeman Material Readiness Award.
Ashore, Captain Forster attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California where he earned a Master of Arts Degree in National Security Affairs with a regional emphasis in Far East Asia. Later, he served as the cell lead for the Capabilities and Limitations curriculum as well as Information Operations at the Surface Warfare Officers School in Newport, Rhode Island. Finally, he served in the Future Operations directorate at US 6th Fleet working with allies throughout Europe planning and coordinating various exercises.
Captain Forster’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (multiple awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (multiple awards), and various campaign and unit awards.
Captain Forster commanded USS BILLINGS (LCS 15) Gold from March 2020 to September 2021, completing initial certifications and her maiden deployment to the Commander Fourth Fleet Area of Responsibility. He served a sequential command on USS MILWAUKEE (LCS 5) in October 2021 to January 2023 where he completed their maiden deployment, represented the Navy at New York Fleet Week and at Bristol, Rhode Island’s Fourth of July celebration and sailed away on their final deployment. He was a finalist for the James Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership in 2022. His crews achieved advancement rates above the Navy average and a Battle Excellence Award in 2022 with his crew from USS MILWAUKEE. He is currently serving as Commanding Officer of Naval Weapons Station Earle, NJ.
Last Updated: 15 July 2026