Jerry Lavely retired from the United States Special Operations Command in 2011 as a LtCol after a career as both a Naval and Air Force Officer.  He accumulated over 5000 hours piloting various aircraft in both services including the U-2 High Altitude Reconnaissance Plane, where he did several tours of duty flying missions over Afghanistan and Iraq in support of Combat Operations after 9/11. He went on to serve as an Intelligence Officer with the National Reconnaissance Office and various other positions at US SOCOM, including leading the J3 Technical Operations division incorporating emerging technologies into Special Activities in Operations overseas.  

After military retirement Jerry continued supporting US SOCOM and the Department of Defense as Founder and President of OWT Global, a Defense Technology Services firm based in Tampa Fl, where he provided Subject Matter Expertise to PEO Special Reconnaissance.  He built the OWT Team which are recognized experts in UAS and C-UAS programs, testing, and training. He currently serves as a Team Member and Brand Ambassador for Horse Soldier Bourbon and is involved in multiple Veteran efforts, Venture Capital and Non-Profit activities.  He is a 1990 Graduate of the United States Naval Academy and Holds a Masters Degree in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University with a concentration in Counter Terrorism.