,quality(10),blur(50))
Scott Royal, Ph.D., serves as the President and CEO of Westat. He joined Westat in November 2017 as President, was elected to the Board of Directors in May 2018, and became CEO in 2020. He has both a Ph.D. and an M.P.H. from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Royal has a strong background in public health, with a focus on HIV prevention and its impact on disadvantaged communities. Throughout his career, he has conducted a range of research on HIV, led large epidemiologic projects, and built rigorous professional capacities. Over the years, he has transitioned from frontline research to corporate leadership where he excels in bringing talented people together and enhancing how they perform on all dimensions of research work.
Dr. Royal believes clear communications and providing an environment that fosters innovation and creativity are key aspects of leadership, especially during unprecedented times. Having been appointed CEO at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, he notes “Like the nation, we are faced with challenges, but through expert research, teamwork, and flexibility we are discovering strategic solutions for our company and our clients.”
In his almost 30-year career in the field of government contracting and professional services, Dr. Royal has held technical and management positions at RTI International, Abt Associates, and The Lewin Group. He has also served the community at large on the Board of Directors for Metro Teen AIDS in Washington, DC, and Capital Caring (Hospice) in Falls Church, Virginia. He currently serves on the Beebe Medical Foundation Board in Lewes, Delaware.
Westat offers innovative professional services to help clients improve outcomes in health, education, social policy, and transportation. The company began as a visionary startup in 1963, and now has over 1,700 employees working from their Rockville, Maryland headquarters, and offices all over the country. Westat provides data collection and survey research, statistical science, evaluation, communications, technical assistance, and information technology services. They are 100% employee owned and dedicated to improving lives through research.