Scott Firsing (born 08 December 1981) is an American known for roles in academia, business and politics. He was a 2024 Republican Candidate for the Texas House of Representatives for District 47 located in Travis County.[1] Firsing currently owns the Austin Texas based aerospace consultancy Scott Sky Advisors and sits on multiple Boards including the National Flight Training Alliance, Sim-U-Tech and the World Affairs Council of Austin. He is also a Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Global Dialogue, a think-tank associated with the University of South Africa in Pretoria South Africa.
Early life and education
Raised just outside of Princeton New Jersey, Firsing was an enthusiastic reader of books and movie goer, later attributing[2] many of passions in International Relations and Space in part to novels by Tom Clancy, series like the Lord of the Rings, and watching movies and television shows such as Top Gun and Star Trek. Firsing later studied criminal justice and political science at Rutgers University.[3]
In 2005, he migrated to South Africa where he stayed until 2015 before returning to the United States. While residing in Johannesburg, Firsing received his doctorate from the University of South Africa in International Politics in 2011[4] focusing on United States-South Africa bilateral relations in the post-apartheid era. Firsing was a London School of Economics and Political Science Fellow[5] and received leadership training at LSE in 2012 via their Programme for African Leadership (Pfal).[6][7]
Career
Firsing, described as an American scholar,[8] spent the last 20 years working in the aerospace, defense, education, and political sectors. His main areas of expertise are aviation[9] and international relations/security issues[10][11] with a focus on foreign power involvement in Africa[12][13] and migration.[14] Firsing has published extensively in the thematic areas of United States-Africa relations,[15] and the international relations of Africa more generally.[16][17] His opinion is often sought by both the print[18][19][20][21][22][23] and broadcast media.[24][25]
Firsing started his international career as an intern at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters[26] assisting with nuclear disarmament issues. While living in South Africa from 2005-15,[27], he held several leadership roles at educational institutions and think-tanks. Firsing served as a Senior Lecturer and Head of the International Studies Department at Monash University.[28][29][30] In addition, Firsing served as a South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) Bradlow Fellow in 2012[31] as well as an Institute for Global Dialogue Fellow[32][33]. Firsing was also a Director of the Aerospace Leadership Academy[34][35] and the North American International School (NAIS) in Pretoria.[36] Upon returning to the United States, Firsing has taught at the University of North Carolina,[37] The Citadel: The Military College of South Carolina[38] and Coastal Carolina University.[39]
Firsing is a known expert in the training aircraft and flight simulation market.[40][41][42][43][44] He has been an executive at the France based Elixir Aircraft and ALSIM Simulators, as well as the Switzerland based Loft Dynamics.[45] Firsing served on the Board of the University Aviation Association[46] and currently serves on the Board of the National Flight Training Alliance[47] and Houston based company Sim-U-Tech.[48] He frequently contributes analysis on the topic aviation outlets such as FLYING[49], General Aviation News[50] and AOPA.[51]
Texas House of Representatives
On March 05, 2024, Firsing won the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives for District 47 with 100% of the vote[52]. He subsequently lost to Democrat incumbent Vikki Goodwin in the general election in November 2024.
Personal life
Firsing is married with five children.[53]
References
[1] Ballotpedia Texas House of Representatives District 47. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[2] Harris, Margaret (October 07, 2012) My Brilliant Career: Solving the Puzzle of the World. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
[3] Firsing, Scott (May 31, 2007) Disturbing Times: The State of the Planet and Its Possible Future. 30 Degrees South Publishers. Johannesburg, South Africa.
[4] Firsing, Scott (November 2010) Assessing Asymmetry in International Politics: US-South Africa Relations 1994-2008. Doctoral Thesis. University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.
[5] Quartz Scott Firsing Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[6] Firsing, Scott (January 18, 2016) How severe is Africa’s Brain Drain? Africa at LSE. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[7] Pfal Foundaton (April 30, 2015) What Aerospace Technology can do for Africa. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[8] Reinl, James (December 26, 2021) Obituary: Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s ‘moral compass.’ Al Jazeera. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
[9] FLYING Magazine Author Scott Firsing. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[10] Dalton, David (2016) The nuclear option: Can this be Africa’s energy future? NucNet, The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency, Brussels, Belgium. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[11] J Brooks Spector (August 05, 2013) Just practising: Joint US-SA military training exercise in Eastern Cape winds up. Daily Maverick. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[12] Firsing, Scott (September 18, 2016) What America’s next president needs to know about Africa. The National Interest. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[13] Xinhua (December 12, 2013) African economies remain resilient in 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[14] Kigohto, Wachira (April 11, 2024) African governments urged to re-examine positions on migration. University World News. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[15] Zhaokun, Wang (August 13, 2012) US Eyes the potential of Africa. Global Times. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[16] The Conversation Scott Firsing Profile. Retreived August 19, 2024.
[17] Google Scholar Scott Firsing PhD. Retreived August 19, 2024.
[18] Lyman, John (December 29, 2023). Can one Texan Save the State from Itself? International Policy Digest. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
[19] Soergel, Andrew (October 07, 2016). Sub-Saharan Africa Bleeds Skilled Labor as 'Brain Drain' Continues. US News & World Report. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[20] Xinhua (August 20, 2013) Council helps increase investment in China. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[21] Klomegah, Kester Kenn (April 4, 2013). Russia eyes Africa to boost arms sales. The Guardian. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[22] Associated Press (August 01, 2012) SA stops oil imports from Iran. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[23] Conway-Smith, Erin (July 30, 2016) Obama in Africa: China 1, US O. Global Post. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[24] CNBC Africa (February 06, 2013) South Africa-US relations with Dr Scott Firsing. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
[25] Kudashkina, Ekaternia (October 30, 2014) If Obama says he is going to do something, he better back it up. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[26] Horry County Democratic Party (October 13, 2016) Horry Dems win 2016-17 Clyburn Political Fellowship. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[27] International Policy Digest Scott Firsing Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[28] Evans, Sarah and Bauer, Nikolas (April 17, 2013) Boston bombs: SA runners remain in US after ‘act of terror’ Mail and Guardian. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[29] Harris, Margaret (October 07, 2012) My Brilliant Career: Solving the Puzzle of the World. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
[30] Monash University (May 16, 2012) Social Inclusion is a winner. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
[31] South African Institute of International Affairs (June 24, 2013) Video: President Obama’s Whirlwind Visit to Africa. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[32] Masters, Leslie and Zondi, Siphamandla (July 13, 2015) South African Foreign Policy Review Volume 2. Africa Institute of South Africa. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[33] Institute for Global Dialogue (February 16, 2014) The 2014 Nuclear Security Summit and US-SA Cooperation. [in] Focus. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[34] Aertec Solutions (2015) Interview with Scott Firsing, AERLA. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[35] Firsing, Scott (December 08, 2014) (Aero)Space odyssey: The quest to create Africa’s future astronauts, engineers, aeronautic entrepreneur. Daily Maverick. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
[36] The Guardian (December 21, 2013) 'Tanzania among 'new' resource-rich states leading in Africa's growth.' Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[37] Agence France-Presse AFP (January 17, 2017) Obama leaves symbolic legacy in Africa. Accra Ghana. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[38] Firsing, Scott (January 18, 2016) How severe is Africa's brain drain? London School of Economics and Political Science. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
[39] Coastal Carolina University, Great Decisions Lecture Series. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[40] Halldale (March 06, 2023) Loft Dynamics Makes New Appointments to Support Expansion. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
[41] Loft Dynamics PR (March 06, 2023). Loft Dynamics appoints industry veterans Scott Firsing and Woody McClendon to support expansion in North America. Vertical Magazine. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[42] Robinson, Jon (March 24, 2019) 25 Years of Simulation. WINGS Magazine. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[43] Hemmersmeier, Sean (October 27, 2022) Flight School Snags State-of-The-art Simulator for Students, Staff. Las Vegas-Review Journal. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[44] AOPA (January 24, 2020) 'Hangar Talk': Alsim's Scott Firsing. Podcast. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[45] Stevens, Kim (June 26, 2023) Sierra Charlie Aviation Places Pre Order for 100 Elixir Aircraft. State Aviation Journal. Retrieved August 19, 2024
[46] University Aviation Association (2023) Collegiate Aviation Scholarship Guide. Website. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[47] National Flight Training Alliance Board Members. Website. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
[48] Sim-U-Tech Board Members. Website. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[49] FLYING Magazine Scott Firsing Author. Website. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[50] General Aviation News Staff (December 31, 2023). Flight training regulations need to be updated. GA News. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[51] Firsing, Scott (May 27, 2020) Now is the time to restructure and learn. AOPA. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[52] New York Times (June 13, 2024) Texas Primary Election results. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
[53] Firsing for Texas (2024) Meet Scott. Website. Retrieved August 18, 2024.