Col. Joshua C. Hayward, Commander, 110th Aviation Brigade
Col. Hayward commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in Aviation in May 2005 from the University of Kentucky, earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He attended the Aviation Officer Basic Course and Flight School at Fort Rucker, Alabama, becoming an AH-64D Apache Helicopter Pilot. His first duty assignment was at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, where he served with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division as a Platoon Leader in Bravo and Delta Companies. During this assignment, he deployed in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM from May 2007 to July 2008.
Upon completing the Aviation Captain’s Career Course in August 2009, Col. Hayward was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He initially served as the Battalion’s Assistant S3, deploying in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM from February 2010 to February 2011. While deployed, he assumed command of Delta Company. He later took command of Alpha Company, leading them through a subsequent deployment in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM from August 2012 to March 2013.
Following company command, Col. Hayward was selected for the Joint Chiefs of Staff Internship Program, during which he earned a Master’s degree in Public Policy Management from Georgetown University. He was then assigned to the Joint Operations Division, J3, Joint Staff, serving as the Joint Staff’s Global Force Manager responsible for CENTCOM. He was later selected to serve as a Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Army, working as a Research Analyst and Speechwriter.
In 2016, Col. Hayward assumed command of Bravo Company, 122nd Aviation Support Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division. He subsequently served as the Battalion S3 for the 1st Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment (Attack), postured as part of the Army’s Global Response Force. He then served as the Brigade S3 for the 1st Aviation Brigade at Fort Rucker, Alabama, for three years before being selected for Battalion command. He commanded the 277th Aviation Support Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division and prepared the battalion for a deployment to the CENTCOM area of responsibility in May 2024. Following battalion command, COL Hayward graduated from the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. In his most recent assignment, he served as the Executive Officer to the Commanding General of NATO Allied Land Command in Izmir, Turkey.
Col. Hayward’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with numeral 5, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Master Army Aviator Badge, Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.
He is married to Valerie Hayward of Alabama; they have four children: Collin (12), Parker (10), Logan (7), and Scarlet (4).