Sergeant First Class Jesse L. Havard, U.S. Army Retired was born in Columbus, Mississippi and graduated from New Hope High School in 2004. His youth was split between Milton, Florida and his birthplace, Columbus, Mississippi. He enlisted in the Mississippi Army National Guard in December 2003; attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO; and then attended Advanced Individual Training (AIT) for All-Source Intelligence Analyst at Fort Huachuca, AZ. In 2005, he retrained as a Field Artillery Cannon Crewmember for an impending combat deployment. Subsequently in 2006, he requested and was transferred to the Active Army Component where he served until his medical retirement in 2018 due to wounds sustained during combat operations. With almost 20 years of experience, he has worked on complex problem sets with emphasis in providing key analytical judgments in a joint command, Special Operations, conventional forces, and deployed Task Forces world-wide supporting a wide range of military contingency operations. He has an intimate, hands-on familiarity with all phases of the intelligence process with specialization in all-sources analysis focused on governance, targeting, insurgent and terrorists related networks and detainee source directed requirements. He has successfully completed numerous deployments where he was decorated for his actions throughout the United States Central Command and United States Africa Command theatre multiple times to include both of declared theatre of armed conflicts such as Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq.

Since October 2024, he has served as the Chief, Data Governance and Capabilities Division and the Artificial Intelligence Portfolio Manager for the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) at US Special Operations Command. Since retiring from the Army in 2018, from 2018-2020 he has worked in the Intelligence Directorate, U.S. Central Command as a Senior Civilian Engagements Officer for the Arabian Peninsula, from 2020 – 2022 as the Senior Civilian Special Operations Analyst for National Mission Forces within the Strategic Planning Department, Directorate of Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment Directorate, United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), and from 2022 – 2024 as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Warfighter Support Office (QX) Requirements, Capabilities, and Integrations Manager and principal advisor to US Special Operations Command, Special Operations Forces Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (SOF AT&L), US Central Command, and US Southern Command. He supports our nation’s Special Operation Forces as the principal advisor to US Special Operations Command (SOCOM), US Central Command, and US Southern Command's NGA Support Team's for geospatial technology integration and acquisition.

During his career, he served as an Cannoneer, Intelligence Sergeant, Section Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Strategic Intelligence Liaison Officer to Commanding General, ISAF, Targeting Officer, and NCOIC for a Branch, Battalion, and Brigade Combat Team and Chief of Targets for Joint Special Operations Command. He has deployed in support of the Global War on Terror and Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, and ODYSEEY RESOLVE. 

He has been assigned to the following units: Bravo Battery, 1st-114th Field Artillery (Forward) out of Winona, MS with duty in Afghanistan; 82d Combat Aviation Brigade, 82d Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg; Intelligence Directorate, United States Central Command at MacDill AFB; 1st Battalion 76th Field Artillery and 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3d Infantry Division (Mech) at Ft. Stewart, GA; and his final assignment before retiring was the Joint Special Operations Command at Ft. Bragg.

He humbly serves as a Task Force 7294 Regional Team Member, a non-profit organization that supports intelligence professionals who contributed to various military missions and campaigns between 1 Sept 2001 and 31 August 2021. Previously he served as a member of the Board of Advisors for Camp Resilient of North Carolina, a non-profit focused on service members, veterans, and their families by providing support to improve the stress and trauma effects from service and build resilience within the individual, family, unit, and community. Additionally, he serves as a Tackle and Flag Football official for Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Youth for the Florida High School Athletic Association and West Coast Officials Association.

His civilian education includes a Master of Business Administration-Project Management (Honors) from Norwich University, Bachelor of General Studies from Columbia College (Magna Cum Laude), and Associate of Applied Science-Intelligence Operations (Honors) from Cochise College. 

His awards include the Purple Heart (2nd Award), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal (4th award), Army Commendation Medal (4th award), Joint Service Achievement Medal (2nd award), Army Achievement Medal (3rd award), Joint Meritorious Unit Award (5th award), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal (4th award), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (3x campaign stars and arrowhead), Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal (1x campaign stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (“M” Device), NCO Professional Development Ribbon (3rd award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd award), NATO Non-Article 5 Medal – ISAF (2x campaign stars), Mississippi National Guard War Medal, Mississippi National Guard Emergency Service Medal, Mississippi National Guard Recruiting Ribbon, Driver and Mechanic with Driver – Wheeled Vehicles Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Combat Action Badge. He is a recipient and member of the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara and the LTC Thomas Knowlton Award. He was selected as the 2010 United States Central Command Senior Servicemember of the Year. 

He is married to the former Elizabeth Anne Wallace and has three daughters: Virginia, Annabel, and Avalyn.