Forrest grew up in Pensacola, Florida, and graduated from Pensacola High School in 2001, where he stood out as a dedicated and athletic young man. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, target shooting, and hiking in the woods. He consistently put others before himself.

He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in November 2008, driven by a strong desire to serve and protect his country. He earned certifications in static line, free fall, scuba, and joint terminal attack control. Committed to the elite world of Combat Control, he completed rigorous training and served with several Special Tactics Squadrons: first the 23rd at Hurlburt Field, then the 24th, and later the 21st at Pope Army Airfield in North Carolina. Over his seven-year career, he deployed three times to Afghanistan and once to Africa. On August 26, 2015, he was in the lead vehicle of a convoy near Camp Antonik, Helmand Province, when he was killed in an insider attack at an Afghan checkpoint. Forrest deployed four times in total and was awarded a Bronze Star for each tour—one with valor for heroism in combat.

His legacy lives on through his family, friends, and comrades.