[4] After twelve years as a civilian pastor, he received a commission in the United States Navy and was assigned to the 3rd Marine Air Wing in Yuma, Arizona, where from 1992 to 1995, he served as the battalion chaplain for both the 2nd and the 1st Light Anti-aircraft Missile Battalions.

Scott subsequently served Carrier Air Wing 7 in Oceana, Virginia, as the wing chaplain where he deployed with the Ike battle group for combat in the Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, and the Persian Gulf from 1999 to 2001.

In 2002, Scott received a Master of Theology from the Duke Divinity School,[5] and was then detailed to Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois, as a supervisory chaplain in one of the largest Religious Ministry Teams in the Navy.

[7] However on November 13, 2018, Scott was nominated by the President for appointment to the rank of rear admiral, while serving as Chief of Chaplains.

[8] Scott holds a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.