Intelligence Drives the Fight

Mission Statement:  Deliver high impact intelligence to shape a real-world, ground level understanding of America’s likely tumultuous future.

We believe that conflict is in America’s near future.

Our analysts have lived and operated in overseas conflicts, and are able to find the signal in the noise to reduce uncertainty about America’s volatile future.

We use evidenced-based reasoning and structured analytic techniques to think clearly about the future of American conflict.

We challenge status quo thinking about instability, collapse, systems disruption, and conflict through weekly analysis and intelligence reporting. We have a proven track record of offering high level, accurate insights and perspectives.

Increase your situational understanding, make better decisions, and reduce your uncertainty about the future.

We’re Forward Observer, an Intelligence services company specializing in threat intelligence, trend analysis, conflict monitoring, and applied intelligence training.

Our Staff

Mike Shelby is a former military intelligence NCO and contractor. A veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, he now runs the intelligence shop here at Forward Observer.

Troy Watson is graduated from Texas A&M University with an economics degree and serves as the staff economist for the Economic Early Warning reports.

Max Morton is a retired USMC lieutenant colonel and former CIA Paramilitary Operations Officer. He serves as the Indo-Pacific and US-China analyst.