Anderson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Amherst College.[2] He then earned a Master of Arts in law and a PhD in international affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. His 1993 doctoral thesis was entitled National decisionmaking and quick-strike intervention during the 1980s: a comparative analysis of operations Urgent Fury, El Dorado Canyon, and Just Cause and his thesis advisor was Richard H. Shultz.[1]
In 2018, Anderson was nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities. On August 28, 2018, the U.S. Senate confirmed him by Voice Vote.[4] On March 1, 2020, Anderson was selected to serve as acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy after the resignation of John Rood.[5][6][7][8] On June 6, the U.S. Senate confirmed him as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy by a vote of 78–17.[9]
Anderson resigned November 10, 2020, the day after Secretary Mark Esper was fired.[10] He is the recipient of several professional awards, to include the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service (November 2020).