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OGDEN — Utah Army National Guard Col. Steven R. Watt was recently awarded a 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.
The Bronze Star is one of the military’s highest honors.
Colonel Watt's performance was magnificent. He is the best plans/operations officer I have worked with in my 27 years of service.
–Brig. Gen. Darsie D. Rogers
“Colonel Watt’s performance was magnificent,” Rogers said. “He is the best plans/operations officer I have worked with in my 27 years of service.”
Watt, who received the medal April 2, was responsible for developing the Special Operations Forces Campaign Plan for Iraq. The plan set the strategy for pressuring violent extremist networks and developing Iraq’s special operations forces.
This is Watt’s fourth Bronze Star for combat service and his second Iraq Campaign medal. Two of Watt’s previous Bronze Stars were for combat service in Afghanistan, one with a “V” device for valor.
A 30-year member of the Utah Army National Guard’s 19th Special Forces Group, Watt was an enlisted soldier for eight years before attending Officer Candidate School.
After returning from Iraq, Watt will take command of the 19th Special Forces Group in June during at ceremony at Camp Williams. The command includes more than 2,000 soldiers stationed in nine states.
Watt, known by his middle name Randy, is the assistant chief of police for the Ogden Police Department, where he has worked for 32 years.
He has a bachelor's degree in police science from Weber State University, a master's in business administration from the University of Phoenix and a master's in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. He is currently enrolled in a doctorate program in business, with an emphasis in homeland security and policy.
Email:aodonoghue@ksl.com
