MG Jay W. Hood, U.S. Army 

Jay Hood is a Distinguished Military Graduate of Pittsburg State University and was commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer in 1975. Throughout his career, he served in numerous command and staff assignments in Europe, the 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, and the Middle East. These commands included two Battery Commands within the 82d Airborne at Fort Bragg and the 509th Airborne Battalion Combat Team in Italy. He served as Battalion Commander for 3-319th AFAR, 82d Airborne Division, and as DIVARTY Commander, 82d Airborne Division. His deployments include Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, he has focused on issues related to the Middle East and combating terrorism as the Chief Operations Officer for NATO forces in Kosovo, the Commander of Joint Task Force Guantánamo, Commander of First Army Division East, the Chief of Staff, United States Central Command, and Director of the International Security Assistance Forces Liaison at the U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan. While serving at Guantánamo, MG Hood supervised the safe humane detention of over 500 enemy combatants, the collection of intelligence valuable to U.S. counterterrorist efforts, and was a champion for the men and women serving in the JTF. As the Director of the International Security Assistance Forces Liaison office at the U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan, General Hood provided a critical link between COMISAF, NATO leadership, and the U.S. Ambassador to facilitate civil-military partnerships in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  Major General Hood completed more than 36 years of distinguished service to the country as a United States Army Officer on March 1, 2012. Since retiring, General Hood has stayed informed about geopolitical issues affecting the Middle East and often speaks at various educational forums, civic groups, and private businesses on current national security and defense topics.  He has also advised industry on the development of a wide range of commercial products with military applications that promote soldier safety and performance.