On 01 April 2023, CWO Hays assumed his role as the Program Advocate for Identity and Attribution Activities (IA2).
Born on 16 December 1980 in Hays, Kansas, CWO Hays enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1999 as a Military Policeman. His early assignments included MWSS-272 at MCAS New River, NC, and A Co, 2d MP Battalion, where, in 2003, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and was promoted to Sergeant.
He later served in Okinawa with the Provost Marshal’s Office as a watch commander and subsequently conducted a lateral move to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID/5821), holding billets such as Case Agent, Evidence Custodian, and Section Chief. In 2007 he returned to Camp Lejeune as a Criminal Investigator, during which he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He deployed again to Iraq with 3d Bn, 10th Marines as part of Task Force MP. While in Iraq, he was assigned to the Joint Prosecution and Exploitation Center in Camp Fallujah, where he initially served on the Police Transition Team 8-B and later as the Tactical Site Exploitation Operations Cell Team Leader for MNF-West. In 2008, just prior to redeployment to Camp Lejeune, he was selected to the rank of Warrant Officer. From 2008 through 2015 CWO Hays went on to serve in leadership roles at Marine Corps Base Okinawa, G3 IIIMEF, and 3d LE BN.
From 2015 to 2017, he served with the 1st LE Bn as the S2 and CID OIC, overseeing CID support to MEUs, SPMAGTFs, and major exercises, and contributing to Marine Corps biometrics and forensics programs. In 2017, CWO Hays transferred to the 2d LE Bn where he served as the CID OIC and deployed with 2d Marine Raider Bn in support of Special Operations Task Force-North, Combined-Joint Special Operations Task Force-Iraq. During his time with MARSOC he served as the Lab Director for (5) forensic exploitation sites covering Iraq and Syria. Upon return from deployment, CWO Hays returned to 2d LE BN where he served as the Alpha Company Executive Officer and CID OIC.
As part of “Force Design 2030”, CWO Hays was assigned to II MIG as the II MEF action officer for the conduct of the DOTMLPF-C process for Identity Operations. In 2022, he became the OIC of Camp Lejeune CID before reporting to HQMC, DC I in 2023 as the Active Duty IA2 Program Advocate.