Scott Taylor (politician)
| Scott Taylor | |
|---|---|
| Member-elect of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 2nd district | |
|
Taking office January 3, 2017 | |
| Succeeding | Scott Rigell |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 85th district | |
|
Assumed office January 8, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Robert M. Tata |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
June 27, 1979 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Virginia Beach, Virginia |
| Alma mater | Harvard University (A.L.B.) |
| Website | www.scotttaylorva.com |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1997–2005 |
| Unit | Navy SEALs |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War |
Scott W. Taylor (born June 27, 1979) is a retired American Navy SEAL and the United States Representative-elect for Virginia's 2nd congressional district, representing the Republican Party.
In 2008, Taylor ran for Mayor of Virginia Beach, Virginia.[1] He was a candidate in the 2010 primary election for Virginia's 2nd congressional district, but lost to Scott Rigell. Taylor was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates for the 85th district in November 2013. Taylor won the Republican nomination for Virginia's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, 2016, defeating Randy Forbes in the primary, and won the general election on November 8, 2016.
Taylor is a real estate broker and former U.S. Navy SEAL. He is also the founder and chairman of Special Operations OPSEC Education Fund, a 501(c) Political Action Committee formed in 2012 accusing the Obama Administration of security leaks and taking too much credit for the Killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011.[2][3]
In 2010 and 2016, Taylor was a Republican primary candidate for Congress in Virginia's 2nd congressional district; successfully in 2016.[4][5]
Taylor appeared in the Discovery Channel feature Secrets of Seal Team 6. His book, Trust Betrayed: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and The Selling Out of America's National Security, was published by Regnery Publishers on February 23, 2015.[6]
As delegate, Taylor cosponsored a bill to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in labor and housing.[7]
Early life and career
Taylor was raised by a single mother in Hebron, Maryland. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served with the SEALs for eight years. He is fluent in Spanish and served overseas in South and Central America in counternarcotics and foreign internal defense missions. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Taylor was a SEAL sniper.
He spent two years as a SEAL instructor teaching marksmanship and reconnaissance. After leaving the military, Taylor worked in security consulting and critical infrastructure protection, frequently travelling to Yemen. Taylor earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts concentrating on International Relations from Harvard University Extension School, and also received a certificate in government contracting from Old Dominion University.
Taylor has participated in national interviews on radio and news networks, discussing topics such as foreign policy, military issues, and national security. Taylor has been invited as a public speaker to Fortune 500 companies and NFL football teams. In August 2010, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell appointed Taylor to the Virginia War Memorial Board of Trustees. He served on the board of the Underwater Demolition Team/SEAL Association and the Virginia Beach Forum, an organization that promotes civic discourse. He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Taylor is the former president of OPSEC, a National Security PAC formed in 2012, and led the organization in raising donations. He is also a licensed real estate broker.
References
- ↑ "Scott Taylor to Run for Virginia's 2nd Congressional District Seat" (PDF). Scott Taylor for Congress. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
- ↑ Tapper, Jake (August 21, 2012). "President Obama Says He Doesn't Take Anti-Obama Navy SEALs Group "Too Seriously"". ABC News.
- ↑ McConnell, Dugald (August 17, 2012). "Former special forces officers slam Obama over leaks on bin Laden killing". CNN.
- ↑ Dilanian, Ken (August 16, 2012). "Group attacking Obama for security leaks includes past talkers". The Los Angeles Times Telegraph. Los Angeles.
- ↑ Bartel, Bill; Parker, Stacy. "Scott Taylor defeats veteran Randy Forbes in 2nd Congressional primary thanks to feisty grassroots campaign". PilotOnline. The Virginian Pilot. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
- ↑ "Trust Betrayed: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and the Selling Out of America's National Security". Amazon.com. February 23, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
- ↑ Portnoy, Jenna (February 18, 2016). "Va. House vote hints at a generational divide on gay rights". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 15, 2016.