Clay Novak is a retired US Army infantry lieutenant colonel with twenty-five years of service and a combined five combat tours between Afghanistan and Iraq. He is a graduate of the US Army Ranger School, a master parachutist, and has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal three times for his service in combat. Also a lifelong recreational shooter and hunter, Clay has a wide range of experience and expertise with firearms of all types. He earned a bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University and a master's degree from Webster University.