Meet Adam R. Forgie
Adam R. Forgie is a dedicated public servant running for the congressional seat in Pennsylvania's 12th District. His journey is rooted in a deep commitment to the community and a passion for creating positive change. Adam has dedicated his career to public service, including serving as a volunteer firefighter, public school teacher, U.S. Army Reservist, mayor, and teacher's union president. His diverse experience reflects his unwavering dedication to the well-being of the people he serves.
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Met with U.S. Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm supporting Eos Energy at RIDC Park in Turtle Creek (Biden Administration)
Born on June 17, 1977, at Magee-Women's Hospital in Pittsburgh, Adam Robert Forgie was welcomed into the world by his parents, Robert and Donna (Kelley) Forgie. He is the fifth generation of Forgies to call Turtle Creek home, tracing his family roots back to Irish and Scottish immigrants who sought opportunity in America.
Adam was baptized at St. Colman Roman Catholic Church, where he also attended kindergarten. His childhood was defined by the strong community ties of the Electric Heights Housing Co-op—affectionately known as “the Green & Whites.” Growing up, he spent his days playing baseball, street and ice hockey, and building clubhouses with his friends while fostering a love for Star Wars, and US History that would shape his future.
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His academic journey began in the newly formed Woodland Hills School District, where he attended public school from first grade through his 1995 graduation with honors. The challenges his family faced in the post-steel era Mon Valley deeply impacted him. When the Union Railroad laid off his father in the early 1980s, the family turned to federal food assistance to make ends meet. Fortunately, his father found stability as a clerk and union steward at the Turtle Creek Post Office, demonstrating firsthand the power of organized
Adam meets with President Clinton at PSEA Union event on the South Side
Mayor Forgie helps local student, and Tree Pittsburgh to plant trees at Hamilton Park in Turtle Creek.
labor in rebuilding working-class lives. His mother worked tirelessly cleaning homes while ensuring Adam and his younger sister, Laura (born in 1986), were always supported in their education and extracurriculars. Sharing a room with Laura for 11 years was an adventure in itself—one that built a lasting bond filled with love, respect, and endless laughter.
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The Forgie family embraced the Griswold spirit when it came to travel. Summers were spent fishing and hunting at the family camp in Potter County, and vacations spanned the eastern seaboard and the Gulf of Mexico. But the most impactful trip came when Adam was in middle school: a cross-country journey to Colorado, the Grand Canyon, the Petrified Forest, and Monument Valley. That adventure ignited his passion for American history and geography, a passion that would guide him through his life’s work.
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In the fall of 1995, Adam began his freshman year at Slippery Rock University, where he pledged Phi Kappa Theta fraternity and served as vice president for three years. He also became involved in the Student Government Association, gaining an early education in leadership and civic engagement. To help pay for college, he spent summers working for the Turtle Creek Street Department, an experience that deepened his appreciation for the hardworking men and women in labor, construction, and public works.
Graduating in May 2000 with a degree in Secondary Education: Social Studies, Adam completed his student teaching at Norwin School District before securing his first long-term teaching position there. But before fully stepping into the classroom, he fulfilled a lifelong dream: at 18, he became the youngest member of the Turtle Creek Volunteer Fire Department.
As a firefighter, Adam found immense pride in public service, responding to house fires, floods, and car accidents while providing mutual aid to surrounding communities. Whether working fireman’s fairs or standing beside his firehouse brothers and sisters in times of crisis, he embodied the Mon Valley spirit: help your neighbors, protect your own, and always show up.
TCFD Firefighter Forgie vents the roof at a structure fire in East McKeesport.
Army Specialist Forgie enjoys the completion of Basic Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
On September 10, 2001, Adam returned to his hometown to begin his teaching career at Woodland Hills School District, instructing 8th-grade U.S. History, 9th-grade Civics, and 7th-grade World History. The next morning, as the 9/11 attacks unfolded, he watched alongside his students in the East Junior High library, knowing the world had changed forever. That day hit especially hard when a colleague collapsed in grief—her two firefighter relatives had been killed at the World Trade Center.
Driven by a sense of duty, Adam enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in 2002, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfathers. He completed basic training at Fort Knox while continuing to teach. Assigned to the 444th Personnel Service Battalion, he trained near the Highland Park reservoir. However, his military career was unexpectedly cut short in 2006 due to a medical discharge following a gout attack. While his time in uniform was limited, Adam remains a fierce advocate for veterans and military families, carrying the weight of unfinished service with him every day.
Adam earned his master’s degree Magna cum laude from Walden University in 2005. The MS Ed. degree was in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. The degree helped to shape and advance his knowledge of the teaching profession and how to better teach his students, and prepare young teachers.
In 2007, Adam transitioned from the classroom and firehouse to public office, running for Mayor of Turtle Creek. Elected at age 27, he became the borough’s youngest mayor since 1892. Over two terms, he worked closely with Turtle Creek Borough Council, learning that government is about teamwork, not personal agendas. His education continued through the Local Government Academy, where he honed his skills in policy, strategy, and local governance.
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Of all the titles and jobs Adam has held over the last 47 years, none of them are more important than that of husband and father. Adam and Allison McNutt were married at Edgewood Country Club on December 20th, 2008. The couple met during a summer tutoring program at Wilkins Elementary in 2006. Alli is the daughter of Gary McNutt & Elaine DeFalco who both grew up in Turtle Creek. Allison is a graduate of Franklin Regional. She earned her undergraduate degree at Penn St. and her masters degree at Duquesne University. She is also a teacher with the Woodland Hills School District. She is the older sister of Brian McNutt formerly of Murrysville who now resides in Colorado with his wife Lindsey and their four children.
In February of 2014, Adam and I celebrated the birth of their first child and daughter, Amelia. Three years later their baby boy Samuel was born in July 2017. Adam and Alli are so very proud of their two children who both attend public school within the Woodland Hills School District. Amelia, Sammy, Mom, and Dad all enjoy their time on Amelia Island, Fla in the summer and the road trip to and from home. The Forgie’s pets include our rescued German Shepherd named Rocky, four cats, and Sammy’s school of goldfish.
​For over two decades, Adam has dedicated his life to teaching U.S. History, mentoring students, and standing up for working families. He understands the struggles of the Mon Valley because he’s lived them—from growing up in co-op housing to watching his father battle through layoffs before finding stability through union work. He knows that strong unions, responsible development, and investment in education are the key to revitalizing Pennsylvania’s 12th District.
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That’s why Adam Forgie is running for Congress. He’s not a career politician—he’s a teacher, firefighter, parent, veteran, and lifelong advocate for working people. He’s fought for his students, his community, and his fellow laborers. Now, he’s ready to fight for you.
Because in the Mon Valley, we don’t just talk about change—we make it happen.
Forgie is “For all of US!”