Bruce Scott was recently welcomed to West Point on his last official visit as President & CEO of the George and Carol Olmsted Foundation.
The Olmsted Foundation, established by MG (R) George H. Olmsted ’22, has had a powerful impact in developing the leadership skills and advancing the military careers of U.S. military officers.
The Foundation’s signature program, the Olmsted Scholar Program, established in 1957, awards scholarships to highly qualified, active duty junior officers for language studies and graduate-level education. Created in concert with the Department of Defense, the program provides one year of foreign language training followed by two years of study at a foreign graduate school. Olmsted Scholars have studied at over 200 universities in more than 60 countries and 40 languages.
Scott has served on the Foundation’s Board of Directors for 30 consecutive years and as President & CEO for the past 15 years. During this time, he was involved in the selection process for more than half of the 150 West Point graduates who are Olmsted Scholars.
Under his direction the Olmsted Foundation has made significant grants to USMA to support various cadet enrichment programs, most notably the George and Carol Olmsted Foundation Cultural Immersion Program and the Student Conference on U.S. Affairs (SCUSA). The Olmsted Foundation is the third largest corporate, foundation, or organizational donor to West Point.
Scott himself is an Olmsted Scholar, Class of 1979. He received a master’s degree in International Relations equivalent from the University of Freiburg and also holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University. Four of his six children are West Point graduates.
Scott’s service and leadership will leave a lasting legacy for West Point, the Army, and our nation. In guiding the Olmsted Foundation’s work to provide cadets and young officers with the education and broadening experiences that are critical for effective leadership, he has helped to shape leaders who understand the world and who will serve our country with distinction and character.
