When multiple generations of a family defend their country through wartime military service, it creates a unique and special heritage. That’s why it’s no surprise that Hayden Ware—now owner of JSOC Roofing in Oklahoma City—continued his family’s tradition of service by enlisting in the U.S. Army shortly after graduating from college.
Hayden comes from a long line of military heroes. His father, Billy, was a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, his grandfather, Bill Ware, served in the Navy during World War II, and his great-grandfather, Victor Hayden, was among the U.S. Army’s combat troops in World War I.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Central Oklahoma, Hayden felt the strong pull of family tradition. He enlisted as an infantryman, and after training at Fort Benning was soon selected to attend the Ranger Indoctrination Program.
Upon completion, he was assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion as part of the elite 75th Ranger Regiment in Fort Lewis, Washington. The famed regiment is the nation’s premier light infantry unit and special operations force and includes the elite Army Rangers, Delta Force and Seal teams.
“I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do with my degree, and it was in 2007 and 2008, right before the economic crash, so there weren’t a lot of jobs available,” Hayden said.
“So enlisting was a combination of continuing the family tradition and it being the best option for me. I played football and other sports all my life, and so the dynamics of being part of a team were similar, which I liked.”
While in the service, Hayden was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the Global War on Terror, where he took part in more than 100 combat missions dismantling terrorist networks in and around Baghdad. In another assignment, under Task Force Red, his platoon conducted nightly raids, disrupting enemy supply lines and strongholds in both eastern Afghanistan and northwest Pakistan.
During his service, Hayden was promoted to sergeant, then later admitted to the Army’s officer candidate school. He would spend the final days of his career at Oklahoma’s Fort Sill and was honorably discharged at the rank of captain.
Returning to Oklahoma City was a homecoming for Hayden, who spent his early years in the state’s capitol city while his mother completed her master’s degree at UCO. From there the family moved to Kansas in order for his mother to pursue her doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Kansas. Hayden would graduate from Olathe East High School in 2002.
He returned to his mother’s alma mater—where he played linebacker on the UCO Bronchos football team—and graduated in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Once out of the service, Ware spent a few years in the oil industry, but found it unsatisfying. Then he met future business partner Jerry Woods, who had been in the roofing business for more than 20 years. The two clicked, and the end result was the creation of JSOC Roofing in 2020. The veteran-owned company provides the full spectrum of roofing services across Oklahoma and Arkansas, and Hayden became the sole owner in April 202
“I came up with the name—Joint Special Operations Construction—as an homage to the military’s Joint Special Operations Command because I employ the very best workers in the city,” Hayden said.
“Between them, our crew leaders have nearly 70 years’ experience in roofing, painting and doing siding and gutters for residential and commercial clients. And as a roofer, you’re really only as good as the people working with you.
“We take pride in our roots as a veteran-owned company,” he added. “Our commitment to excellence is built on the values instilled during our time in the service.”
JSOC was born in the midst of the COVID shutdown, which required a significant leap of faith, but given his prior military experiences, Hayden said he wasn’t fazed.
“In 2020 everybody was going through it, and while it was a challenge, I was ready, and sometimes the best thing is to just forge ahead,” he said.
“Roofing hasn’t changed, and it never will—the goal is the same as it’s been forever. Take the old one off, and put on a new one.” (He also noted that because of its extreme temperatures, Oklahoma has the shortest roof life span of any state, with seven to eight years being the average.)
After traveling across the country and around the world, Hayden said he loves the Midwestern culture and that Oklahoma is the perfect fit. When not on the job site or office, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Samantha, a fellow UCO graduate and stay-at-home mom.
The couple has two children, Brynna and Asys, plus family dogs Hooch and Daisy. They spend time together outdoors almost every day, and particularly enjoy walks at nearby Lake Arcadia.
“I got into roofing to help people and spend more time with my family,” he said. “Everybody has a roof over their head, whether they own or rent, and repairing and replacing them has been pretty much a standard procedure for hundreds of years. What matters is when you have a professional, local team that you can trust.”