Commander Foster is the son of former Kenmore East High School Teacher Donald Foster and Elizabeth Foster and graduated from Kenmore East Senior High School in 1981. He then attended and graduated from the State University College at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Electronic Engineering Technology in 1986. He went on to Navy Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was commissioned in 1988.

Commander Foster’s initial assignment was to Naval Security Group Detachment (NSGD) Yokosuka, Japan as the Electronic Maintenance Officer. In 1990 he joined CARRIER GROUP FIVE, embarked on board USS MIDWAY (CV-41), where he supported OPERATION DESERT SHIELD and OPERATION DESERT STORM combat operations. He then attended the Defense Language Institute, School of Russian Studies, in Monterey, California, where he earned his certification as a basic Russian Linguist. He then reported to Naval Security Group Activity (NSGA) Rota, Spain, in 1992 where he was assigned as the Airborne Operations Officer and EP-3E Communications Evaluator with FAIRECONRON TWO (VQ-2). During this tour, Commander Foster earned his Naval Aviation Observer wings and flew numerous combat reconnaissance missions into Bosnia-Hercegovina supporting United Nations Humanitarian Relief and Enforcement Operations PROVIDE PROMISE and DENY FLIGHT.

Commander Foster then attended the Naval Post Graduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California, earning a Master of Science degree in Electronic Engineering (MSEE) in 1997. Upon graduation he reported to the Naval Information Warfare Activity (NIWA) in Suitland, Maryland as the Airborne Systems Officer, where he developed airborne information surveillance and attack systems for fixed wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV’s) and helicopters.

In March of 2001, Commander Foster reported to CARRIER GROUP TWO, embarked on board USS HARRY S TRUMAN (CVN-75) where he served as the Cryptologic Resource Coordinator (CRC) for the Strike Group. While on deployment Commander Foster was selected as the Mediterranean Battle Force CRC and qualified as the Staff Tactical Action Officer (STAO) supporting OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM combat operations.

In August 2003, he reported to COMNAVNETWARCOM in Little Creek, Virginia where he worked Information Operations experimentation. During this tour Commander Foster orchestrated the combined fleet experiment Silent Hammer and Trident Warrior, the largest Information Operations exercise in the history of the Navy.

In May 2006, Commander Foster reported to the combined staff of Commander Naval Forces Europe and Commander U.S. SIXTH Fleet as the Force Cryptologist and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Supervisor. During this tour he deployed with JOINT TASK FORCE LEBANON onboard USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC-20) and supported embassy security and the safe evacuation of nearly 15,000 AMCITS from Beirut during Israeli and Hizballah combat operations.

Commander Foster joined Navy Information Operations Command, Norfolk, VA in June 2008 where he served as the Director of the Navy Cyber Security Blue Team and the Chief Staff Officer. Commander Foster led the development of Cyber Security assessment programs for afloat and ashore commands and was instrumental in the execution of hundreds of cyber security assessments that identified thousands of network vulnerabilities.

Some of Commander Foster’s awards include the Air Medal (Strike/Flight), Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal in addition to numerous campaign and unit awards. His aircrew experience includes more than 1,700 flight hours in fixed and rotary wing aircraft.