Mr. Skaggs assumed the responsibilities of the Director of DSCU’s Defense SCO Institute (DSI) in March 2024. In this role, he delivers leadership and oversite of the DSI, which ensures the next generation of Security Cooperation Organization (SCO) personnel receive the education, training, and support they deserve to succeed in challenging and dynamic assignments.
Mr. Skaggs joined DSCU as a faculty member within the Research, Analysis and Lessons Learned Institute in 2023. Mr. Skaggs is a retired Marine with more than 32 years of enlisted and officer service. In 1997, he began his career as a Marine Armor Officer, leading a tank platoon and reconnaissance platoon, and later commanding a tank company in the battle of Fallujah in 2004. In 2005, he transferred to the newly established Marine Special Operations Command, where he was a Special Operations Team leader and Marine Raider Regiment Future Operations Officer. He performed missions in Central Asia from 2006 to 2011 and served in Combined Forces Special Operations Command in Afghanistan. In 2012 he was selected into the Defense Attaché Service. He served as the Marine Attaché in Ukraine from 2013-2016, and as the Marine Attaché in London, UK, from 2016-2019. In 2019 he assumed duties as Chief of Staff, Headquarters Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall, VA.
Mr. Skaggs received a Bachelor of Art in U.S. History from the University of Illinois, and a Master of Art in Security Studies from Kansas State University. He speaks Russian and Ukrainian.
Mr. Skaggs assumed the responsibilities of the Director of DSCU’s Defense SCO Institute (DSI) in March 2024. In this role, he delivers leadership and oversite of the DSI, which ensures the next generation of Security Cooperation Organization (SCO) personnel receive the education, training, and support they deserve to succeed in challenging and dynamic assignments.
Mr. Skaggs joined DSCU as a faculty member within the Research, Analysis and Lessons Learned Institute in 2023. Mr. Skaggs is a retired Marine with more than 32 years of enlisted and officer service. In 1997, he began his career as a Marine Armor Officer, leading a tank platoon and reconnaissance platoon, and later commanding a tank company in the battle of Fallujah in 2004. In 2005, he transferred to the newly established Marine Special Operations Command, where he was a Special Operations Team leader and Marine Raider Regiment Future Operations Officer. He performed missions in Central Asia from 2006 to 2011 and served in Combined Forces Special Operations Command in Afghanistan. In 2012 he was selected into the Defense Attaché Service. He served as the Marine Attaché in Ukraine from 2013-2016, and as the Marine Attaché in London, UK, from 2016-2019. In 2019 he assumed duties as Chief of Staff, Headquarters Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall, VA.
Mr. Skaggs received a Bachelor of Art in U.S. History from the University of Illinois, and a Master of Art in Security Studies from Kansas State University. He speaks Russian and Ukrainian.