Randy Watt
Encyclopedia
Steven 'Randy' Watt is a Colonel
in the Utah National Guard
. As of June 2011 Watt is the Commanding Officer of the 19th Special Forces Group
.
As a Major, Watt arrived in Afghanistan in December 2001, and led the Special Forces
assault team that attacked the compound in Ayub Kheyl
where Omar Khadr
was captured on July 27, 2002. The team consisted of Watt, XO
Captain Mike Silver, Sgt Christopher Speer
, Layne Morris and Master Sgt. Scotty Hansen, both from the 19th Special Forces Group
and two others. Watt was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions.
A native of Ogden, Utah
, Watt is a graduate of Weber State University
and University of Phoenix
. serves as Assistant Police Chief in the city.
Watt was stationed in Afghanistan until December 2002.
In 2004, he was quoted in the Salt Lake Tribune 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 revert back to anarchy."
He 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
magazine.
In December 2005, he 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
.
Watt was deployed to Iraq, training Sadr City
police, from July 2006 until June 2007, and helped his interpreter Falah Al-Baldawi move his family to the United States.
In February 2008, Lt. Col. 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 while serving with Joint Forces Special Operations Component Command in Iraq. The head of the command, Brig. Gen. Darsie D. Rogers, presented the award to Watt at Camp Liberty in Baghdad on April 2, 2011. Without the "V" device for valor, the award is commonly given as an end of tour award to staff officers.
Colonel Watt is on a very short list of candidates for promotion to Brigadier General and command of the Army component of the Utah National Guard.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the Utah National Guard
Utah National Guard
The Utah National Guard consists of the:* Utah Army National Guard**19th Special Forces Group **85th WMD CST**97th Troop Command**115th Engineer Group **211th Aviation Group**300th MI Brigade **640th Regiment...
. As of June 2011 Watt is the Commanding Officer of the 19th Special Forces Group
19th Special Forces Group (United States)
The 19th Special Forces Group is one of two National Guard groups of the United States Army Special Forces. Headquartered in Draper, Utah, with detachments in Washington, West Virginia, Ohio, Rhode Island, Colorado, California and Texas, the 19th SFG shares responsibility over Southwest Asia with...
.
As a Major, Watt arrived in Afghanistan in December 2001, and led the Special Forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
assault team that attacked the compound in Ayub Kheyl
Ayub Kheyl
Ayub Kheyl is a small village 7 miles outside Khost, Afghanistan. It was the site of a large firefight that resulted in the capture of a young Canadian, Omar Khadr, on July 27, 2002. It was widely known for its conservative population closely tied to the Taliban....
where Omar Khadr
Omar Khadr
Omar Ahmed Khadr is a Canadian child soldier and one of the juveniles held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. He was convicted of five charges under the United States Military Commissions Act of 2009 including murder in violation of the law of war and providing material support for terrorism,...
was captured on July 27, 2002. The team consisted of Watt, XO
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
Captain Mike Silver, Sgt Christopher Speer
Christopher Speer
Sergeant First Class Christopher James Speer was a combat medic with a Delta Force team who was mortally wounded during a skirmish in Afghanistan, on July 27, 2002...
, Layne Morris and Master Sgt. Scotty Hansen, both from the 19th Special Forces Group
19th Special Forces Group (United States)
The 19th Special Forces Group is one of two National Guard groups of the United States Army Special Forces. Headquartered in Draper, Utah, with detachments in Washington, West Virginia, Ohio, Rhode Island, Colorado, California and Texas, the 19th SFG shares responsibility over Southwest Asia with...
and two others. Watt was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions.
A native of Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
, Watt is a graduate of Weber State University
Weber State University
Weber State University is a public university located in the city of Ogden in Weber County, Utah, USA. It was founded in 1889 and is a coeducational, publicly supported university offering professional, liberal arts and technical certificates, as well as associate, bachelor's and master's degrees...
and University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix is a for-profit institution of higher learning. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Group Inc. which is publicly traded , an S&P 500 corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona...
. serves as Assistant Police Chief in the city.
Watt was stationed in Afghanistan until December 2002.
In 2004, he was quoted in the Salt Lake Tribune 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 revert back to anarchy."
He was also profiled in the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
special, "Profiles from the Front Line" in 2003, as well as the July/August 2004 edition of Men's Health
Men's Health (magazine)
Men's Health , published by Rodale Inc. in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, United States, is the world’s largest men’s magazine brand, with 44 editions around the world. It is also the best-selling men's magazine on U.S. newsstands. It covers fitness, nutrition, sexuality, lifestyle and other aspects of...
magazine.
In December 2005, he was in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
for a three-day National Tactical Officers Association training course for Brazilian special forces, in preparation for the 2007 Pan American Games
2007 Pan American Games
The 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games, were a major continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to July 29, 2007. A total of 5,633 athletes from 42 National Olympic Committees competed in 332 events in 34 sports and in...
.
Watt was deployed to Iraq, training Sadr City
Sadr City
Sadr City is a suburb district of the city of Baghdad, Iraq. It was built in 1959 by Prime Minister Abdul Karim Qassim and later unofficially renamed Sadr City after deceased Shia leader Mohammad Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr....
police, from July 2006 until June 2007, and helped his interpreter Falah Al-Baldawi move his family to the United States.
In February 2008, Lt. Col. 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 while serving with Joint Forces Special Operations Component Command in Iraq. The head of the command, Brig. Gen. Darsie D. Rogers, presented the award to Watt at Camp Liberty in Baghdad on April 2, 2011. Without the "V" device for valor, the award is commonly given as an end of tour award to staff officers.
Colonel Watt is on a very short list of candidates for promotion to Brigadier General and command of the Army component of the Utah National Guard.