LSMSA, LA Youth Seminar shaped career path of 1998 graduate, U.S. Army officer Anthony Williams

Williams first learned about LSMSA during a presentation in the library at Bogalusa High School, where a small group of students heard about a unique residential academic environment designed for high-performing students. He and classmate Mark Branch later enrolled, beginning an experience Williams described as academically rigorous and unlike anything he had previously encountered.

Williams said LSMSA instilled in him the value of lifelong learning and nurtured the intellectual curiosity that continues to drive his work. He recalled talented peers, dedicated faculty members, and residential advisors who were deeply invested in student success. The school, he added, required students to think critically—an essential skill in the complex and fast-moving world of military intelligence.

Outside the classroom, Williams was active in athletics, playing basketball and flag football and spending what he jokingly described as “more time in the SAC (Student Activity Center) than I probably should have.” He fondly remembered competing in Northwestern State University intramurals, the Natchitoches church league, and traveling to Hot Springs for SLAM, an athletic tournament in which LSMSA students compete against students from sister schools. He also praised the school’s host family program, noting that he still spends time with his LSMSA host family more than 25 years later. Many of the friendships he formed at LSMSA, he said, remain strong today.

Williams also said the LYS program encouraged students to set goals, dream boldly, and surround themselves with positive mentors and peers. Coming from a family that could not afford the program, Williams said he remains grateful to the sponsors who invested in him—an experience that shaped his approach to mentorship and his belief in empowering potential in others.

LSMSA Executive Director Steve Horton said programs such as LYS complement the school’s mission by reinforcing leadership skills developed through LSMSA’s rigorous academic environment. Horton also noted that it provides intensive training in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and decision-making while helping students broaden their perspectives, build confidence, and connect with peers from across the state.

After graduating from LSMSA in 1998, Williams enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in 2000 and earned his commission as a Military Intelligence officer in 2004 after graduating from Louisiana State University. He has since served in a wide range of assignments within the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, including postings in South Carolina, Washington state, Arizona, Georgia, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., and Rhode Island.

Williams has completed seven combat tours—three in Iraq, two in Afghanistan, and two in Turkey. His most recent deployment, in 2017, took him to Turkey, where he served as the Senior Intelligence Officer for Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force–Syria, supporting partnered forces and counterterrorism missions against the Islamic State.

His stateside roles have included serving as a targeting officer and later as an interagency liaison in Langley, Virginia, where he advised U.S. counterterrorism policy. Most recently, he completed the Army Congressional Fellowship and Battalion Command.

Williams holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering from LSU, a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, and a Master of Professional Studies in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in National Security and Resource Strategy. His military education includes Ranger School, Jumpmaster Course, the Defense Advanced Tradecraft Course, the Military Intelligence Captain’s Career Course, and the Naval Command and Staff Course, among others.

His military awards include three Bronze Star Medals, three Meritorious Service Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger Tab.

Williams lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Tanya, and their twins, Liam and Leona. He enjoys playing sports, weightlifting, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Looking back, Williams said much of his success can be traced to LSMSA, LYS, and the mentors who guided him. He said they equipped him not only with knowledge and skills, but with the character and principles necessary for service, adding that he remains deeply grateful for both experiences.