Special Operations Experience

special mission unit (smu), ft. bragg, nc

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (J6)

  • Selected over 24 peers for prestigious assignment in the Army's most elite and highest priority combat unit
  • Served as a Troop Commander responsible for all tactical C4 systems and personnel supporting the Army’s "911" response unit.

June 1990 - November 1993.

It has been my privilege to serve in our Nation’s elite Special Operations Forces for nearly half of my military career.  My SOF journey began in 1990 upon being assigned to the Army’s 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Ft. Devens, MA.  It was here and in subsequent SOF assignments where I learned the greatest life lessons ranging from leadership, how to carry yourself like a Quiet Professional, the importance of a person’s character and reputation, and how important it is to know what you are doing as a mistake might cost another person his or her life.  Years after my time with 10th SFG(A), I was humbled and proud to be selected to serve in the Army’s most elite Special Mission Unit (SMU).  My next SOF opportunity came at the Joint level where I worked side by side with our Navy, Air Force, and Marine SOF counterparts at the Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC) level as a Reservist serving in the Special Operations Command, Pacific.  After making the decision to return to regular Active Duty Army status in 2009, I was humbled once again to be requested by-name over all other candidates to serve in another TSOC, this time Special Operations Command, Central (SOCCENT).  I was then selected by the Army to move out of cycle in 2011 to serve once again in SOCPAC.  A Lieutenant Colonel at the time, I was selected over all available Colonels for the position and was later promoted to Colonel.  These experiences have had the greatest impact on my professional and personal development!

Special Operations highlights

cultural engagement group (CEG), special operations command, central (SOCcent), macdill air force base, tampa, fl

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (J6)

  • Selected by the Commanding General to stand up a new C4 organization
  •  Developed and managed the first non-Special Mission Unit (SMU) low visibility C4 capabilities within the DoD Special Operations community
  • Assisted DoD's Special Operations headquarters in creating its first-ever low visibility C4 program office to facilitate acquisition of unique low visibility communications systems

special operations command, pacific (SOCPAC), Camp h.m. smith, hi

  • See Home Page, "Recent Experience"

10th special forces group (airborne), ft. devens, ma

PLATOON LEADER, INFORMATION MANAGEMENT OFFICER, and GROUP CIO S6

  • Selected by the Group Commander to serve in the senior CIO position over 3 higher ranking IT professionals

  • Implemented an email system throughout the organization - first time ever!

  • Developed and implemented a first-ever data communications protocol greatly improving information sharing

* Special Operations assignments include the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Ft. Devens, MA, a Special Mission Unit (SMU) at Ft. Bragg, NC, and two Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs) - SOCPAC and SOCCENT
* In 2011, I was selected by the Army to fill SOCPAC's Colonel-level CIO position as a Lieutenant Colonel over all available Colonels
* In 2009, after a 10 year hiatus away from regular Army Active Duty status and the SOF community, I was requested by-name by a 2-star General to fill SOCCENT's CIO position

* In 1999, selected over 24 peers to serve in elite Army Special Mission Unit (SMU)
* In 1992, I was selected as the U.S. Army Douglas MacArthur Junior Officer Leadership Award representative for U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)

* In 1992, I was selected by the CEO to fill the Senior Communications/Cyber/IT CIO position over 3 more senior IT professionals

special operations command, central (SOCcent), macdill air force base, tampa, fl

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (J6)

  • Despite a 10 year hiatus from Special Operations, was requested by-name by a 2-star General over all other CIO candidates
  • Led a Joint IT organization consisting of over 150 personnel split between Tampa and Qatar and responsible for supporting all SOF forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Pakistan, Bahrain, Jordan, and UAE
  • Managed a $158M budget and a separate externally funded $100M Enterprise IT contract task order
  • Led the development of an initial prototype concept for a new Special Operations IT delivery architecture designed to deliver improved IT capabilities to disparate and isolated SOF elements operating within the Middle East but outside of Iraq and Afghanistan; prototype was later adopted globally by DoD’s Special Operations headquarters
  • Senior IT executive responsible for cyber security compliance and posture of all networks supporting a customer base located throughout the Middle East; oversaw penetration testing and independent validation & verification programs; no reportable breaches

July 2011 - July 2014.

July 2010 - July 2011.

cell:  808.285.0                email:  harry@eagle6x.com

September 2009 - July 2010.

Independent consulting specializing in MILSATCOM and C4 business development support within the Special Operations Forces (SOF) and DoD markets

Harry "X" Xenitelist

Eagle 6X, LLC

March 1998 - September 1999.