Johnny Hester

Mr. Johnny Hester is the Vice President for Business Development and Strategy for SkyBridge Tactical, LLC. Mr. Hester retired from the U.S. Army as a Special Forces Colonel in October 2017 and joined SkyBridge Tactical in 2020.

Johnny Hester is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, and executed deployments to numerous South America and Southwest Asia countries. Mr. Hester served in the United States Army Infantry (4 years) and as a Special Forces Green Berets (22 years). He commanded 8 organizations including a Long-Range Surveillance Detachment, Infantry Line Platoon, Infantry Reconnaissance Platoon, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha Team, a Special Forces Company, Special Forces Unconventional Warfare Company, Recruiting Battalion, and his last combat tour in 2014-2015 where he served as the Deputy Commander of Special Operations Joint Task Force – Iraq (SOJTF-I).

Mr. Hester finished his 26-year career as the Director of United States Special Operations Command J7-Joint Collective Training Directorate responsible for training Special Operations Forces, training Special Operations Command and Control elements and staffs, Unit Pre-Deployment Training, and providing expertise, planning, coordination, synchronization, execution, and support to Special Operation Exercises.

Mr. Hester’s military education includes Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Special Forces Qualification Course, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and U.S. Army War College. In his civilian studies, he holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Texas A&M, a Master’s Degree in Military Art and Science, and an in Strategic Studies.

His decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal. He has earned the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Ranger Tab, the Special Forces Tab, Pathfinder Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.