Ralph Forsht

Senior Vice President,
Government Relations and Operations

Ralph Forsht oversees the internal operations of First Focus and works closely with the First Focus team on all policy matters in the areas of children’s health, education, budget and family tax policies. Forsht also leads the state work of First Focus to influence federal and state policies in the targeted states of California, New Mexico, Michigan, Iowa, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Maine.

Forsht also helps to spearhead the America’s Promise Alliance’s efforts to advocate on behalf of public policy issues affecting children and youth and to secure the support of local, state and federal elected officials. He works directly with the state affiliates of America’s Promise.

Mr. Forsht joined America’s Promise in 1998 and served previously as vice president, federal and state government relations, where he and his colleagues worked to secure federal, state and local government funds to support both America’s Promise and its community and statewide promise partners. In this capacity, Mr. Forsht also led the effort to launch relationships with a bipartisan group of 10 governors. Other accomplishments during his tenure at America’s Promise include expanding relationships between the organization and the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, Justice, Agriculture and Health and Human Services.

Previously, Forsht served as Director of Legislative Affairs at The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA), an organization dedicated to protecting the benefits of retired enlisted military personnel. He also started and lead TREA’s Political Action Committee. Prior to joining TREA, he worked as a Legislative Assistant for the Air Force Association. Forsht began his career on Capitol Hill as a Senate Budget Committee staffer for U.S. Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM). Forsht holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Virginia Tech.