Steven "Randy" Watt (born December 21, 1957) is a retired
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...
in the
Utah Army National Guard,
and a former commanding officer of the
19th Special Forces Group
The 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (19th SFG) (A) is one of two National Guard groups of the United States Army Special Forces. 19th Group—as it is sometimes called—is designed to deploy and execute nine doctrinal missions: unconvent ...
.
Personal life
A native of
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in and the county seat of Weber County, Utah, United States, approximately east of the Great Salt Lake and north of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,321 in 2020, according to the US Census Bureau, making it Utah's eighth ...
, Watt has a bachelor's degree in police science from
Weber State University
Weber State University (pronounced ) is a public university in Ogden, Utah. It was founded in 1889 as Weber Stake Academy. It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
History
Weber State University was found ...
, a master's degree in business administration
University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix (UoPX) is a private for-profit university headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 1976, the university confers certificates and degrees at the certificate, associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree lev ...
, and a master's degree in strategic studies from
United States Army War College
The United States Army War College (USAWC) is a U.S. Army educational institution in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 500-acre (2 km2) campus of the historic Carlisle Barracks. It provides graduate-level instruction to senior military offi ...
.
[2007 Fall Conference Training](_blank)
/ref> Watt served the Ogden police department for 32 years and retired as Assistant Police Chief in the city in October 2011. Watt was hired to head the Ogden police department from January 2017 until his retirement in January 2021.
Watt is known as an avid mustache enthusiast. He has sported numerous mustache styles in the past. Watt's preferred mustache is the toothbrush mustache.
Career
As a major, Watt arrived in Afghanistan in December 2001, and led the Special Forces
Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...
assault team that attacked the compound in Ayub Kheyl where Omar Khadr
Omar Ahmed Said Khadr ( ar, عمر أحمد سعيد خضر; born September 19, 1986) is a Canadian citizen who at the age of 15 was detained by the United States at Guantanamo Bay for ten years, during which he pleaded guilty to the murder of U ...
was captured on July 27, 2002. The team consisted of Watt, Captain Mike Silver, Sergeant Christopher Speer
Christopher James Speer (September 9, 1973 – August 6, 2002) was a United States Army combat medic and an armed member of a special operations team who was killed during a skirmish in Afghanistan on July 27, 2002. Speer, who was not wearin ...
, Sergeant Layne Morris
Sergeant First Class Layne Morris (born 1962) is a retired soldier in an American Special Forces unit. Sergeant Morris was wounded and blinded in one eye during a fire-fight on July 27, 2002, that left Sergeant 1st Class Christopher J. Speer de ...
and Master Sergeant Scotty Hansen. Watt was awarded the Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious a ...
for his actions. Watt was stationed in Afghanistan until December 2002.
During Watt's reign as Chief of Police of Ogden he oversaw the recruitment of multiple officers to other agencies like the Salt Lake City Police Department. Watt was quoted as saying, "Salt Lake recruits heavily from Ogden City because of the excellent training and experience Ogden Officer receive." https://www.ksl.com/article/46246846/ogden-raises-police-pay-to-prevent-officers-from-leaving
In 2004, Watt was quoted in the ''Salt Lake Tribune
''The Salt Lake Tribune'' is a newspaper published in the city of Salt Lake City, Utah. The ''Tribune'' is owned by The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc., a non-profit corporation. The newspaper's motto is "Utah's Independent Voice Since 1871."
History
A ...
'' as stating "We're arrogant. We think everyone knows what democracy is and wants it ... but you can't change something in six months that took 6,000 years to create. If we don't help the transitional government get the warlords out of power and give democracy time to sprout, the country will to anarchy."[House, Dawn. '']Salt Lake Tribune
''The Salt Lake Tribune'' is a newspaper published in the city of Salt Lake City, Utah. The ''Tribune'' is owned by The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc., a non-profit corporation. The newspaper's motto is "Utah's Independent Voice Since 1871."
History
A ...
'', "Some troops doubt Afghanistan effort is adequate", March 20, 2004
Watt was also profiled in the ABC special, ''Profiles from the Front Line'' in 2003, as well as the July/August 2004 edition of ''Men's Health
''Men's Health'' (''MH''), published by Hearst Communications, Hearst, is the world's largest men's magazine brand, with 35 editions in 59 countries. It is also the best-selling men's magazine on U.S. newsstands.
Started as a men's health maga ...
'' magazine.[
In December 2005, Watt was in Brazil for a three-day National Tactical Officers Association training course for Brazilian special forces, in preparation for the ]2007 Pan American Games
The 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games, were a major Americas, continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to 29, 2007. A total of 5,633 athletes from 42 National Ol ...
.M16 Viper and NOTA in Brazil
/ref>
Watt was deployed to Iraq, training Sadr City
Sadr City ( ar, مدينة الصدر, translit=Madīnat aṣ-Ṣadr), formerly known as Al-Thawra ( ar, الثورة, aṯ-Ṯawra) and Saddam City ( ar, مدينة صدام, Madīnat Ṣaddām), is a suburb district of the city of Baghdad, Iraq. ...
police, from July 2006 until June 2007, and helped his interpreter Falah Al-Baldawi move his family to the United States.
In February 2008, Lieutenant Colonel Watt was interviewed after testifying at the trial of Anthony Calderone, a soldier who falsified his military awards. Watt said that nothing could "recover the lost honor for the U.S. Army" following Calderone's actions.
Watt was awarded his fourth Bronze Star Medal while serving with Joint Forces Special Operations Component Command in Iraq; Watt had nominated himself for the award. The head of the command, Brigadier General Darsie D. Rogers, presented the award to Watt at Camp Liberty in Baghdad on April 2, 2011.
SRW
In either 2006, or 2008, Watt started moonlighting, and providing private security training, using a firm he founded named SRW.
National Command and Staff College
Watt serves as a Senior Faculty and a Commissioner of the National Command and Staff College, center of excellence for Leadership and Performance in law Enforcement and Military.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watt, Randy
1957 births
Living people
Members of the United States Army Special Forces
United States Army officers
University of Phoenix alumni
Weber State University alumni