Travis Haley, a renowned expert in the defense industry, has developed a reputation as a master trainer and product developer. His impressive background as a former United States Force Recon Marine and private military contractor has equipped him with an array of skills and experiences that he continues to utilize to advance his community and others.
Haley's journey began in 2004 when he first appeared on YouTube as a prominent figure in the Blackwater sniper team in Al-Najaf, Iraq. This pivotal event marked one of the largest insurgent assaults in the history of the war, and real combat footage was scarce at the time. As a door gunner/counter sniper and intelligence gatherer on the Blackwater MD530 Little Bird helicopters, Haley was based out of the Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq.
On April 4th, 2004, "444," Haley and his team received a call to support and evacuate a stranded team in Al-Najaf. Upon landing, they were met with an estimated 1,500 insurgent fighters, outnumbering their team of 20. The intense battle lasted for two days, with Haley and his team working tirelessly to hold back the invading forces.
Unbeknownst to Haley, the outcome of the battle was far from certain. In a moment of instinct, he took out his surveillance camera and hit record. Later, an unknown individual posted the footage on YouTube, which became one of the first combat videos of Iraq to be shared online. The video's popularity soared, garnering over 10 million views and counting, with multiple shares and counting.
