In honor of Veterans Day, we would like to honor any veteran that will join us by paying for their ticket to The Summit on November 10. For more information about this please contact Mary Michels at (479) 271-7799 or by email at marym@crosschurch.com.

Executive Vice President, Family Research Council

Born in New Bern, North Carolina, Lieutenant General William G. “Jerry” Boykin currently serves as the Executive Vice President of the Family Research Council in Washington, DC. He is also the Wheat Professor of Leadership Studies at Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville, Virginia. Previously, LTG Boykin served at the Pentagon as Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, overseeing the gathering and exploitation of intelligence during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

LTG Boykin had a distinguished military career that began in 1971 when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). In his thirty-six years in the Army, he served for more than 24 years in Joint Special Operations, with a command at every level. He was one of the original members of the US Army's Delta Force and was privileged to ultimately command these elite warriors in combat operations. He participated in clandestine operations around the world, beginning with Desert One, the failed 1979 mission to rescue American hostages held in Iran after the Islamic revolution that toppled the shah. He participated in the invasions of Grenada and Panama in 1983 and 1989 respectively, accepted the surrender of Manuel Noriega and headed the chase to capture Colombian drug czar Pablo Escobar in 1992. In 1993, he clashed with Muslim warlord Osman Atto in Somalia, chronicled in the film Black Hawk Down. LTG Boykin ultimately served as the Commander of the US Army Special Forces Command and as the Commandant of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. LTG Boykin also served six years in Intelligence (two with the CIA) and was a member of the National Security Policy Coordinating Committee for Terrorism and Coordinating Sub-Group for Homeland Security.

His memoir, Never Surrender: A Soldier’s Journey to the Crossroads of Faith and Freedom, was released in 2008.  He has also authored two novels, Danger Close and Kiloton Threat. LTG Boykin continues to support our military and promote a strong national defense as a board member with Freedom Alliance, and he encourages patriotism and public service as a board member with the Joe Foss Institute. His most important mission is as an ordained minister and Founder/President of Kingdom Warriors, a non-profit ministry that encourages Christians to be bold in their faith.