STU SEGALL

Strategic Operations has changed the face of tactical training by introducing to the training world “Hollywood” movie and TV-making techniques to make live training as realistic as safely possible. This innovation has been made possible by Stu Segall who brings to Strategic Operations more than 35 years experience as a producer of feature films, television movies and shows.

In 1984 he joined with Stephen J. Cannell Productions to produce the television series "Hunter" for NBC.

Stu brought the television series Silk Stalkings to San Diego in 1991 creating the first and only full service studio in San Diego. This facility provides prime time network quality Television Series, Movies of the Week and Pilots. Stu Segall Productions is now one of the largest independent TV and film studios in America with 10 sound stages on 20 acres.

Stu has produced over 800 hours of primetime television series, including Renegade, Pensacola, Wings of Gold, Invisibleman, The Chronicle, 18 Wheels of Justice, High Tide, Cover Me, Rising Son, Veronica Mars, Desire and Secret Obsessions.

Stu Segall Productions has produced for ABC, Beacon, CBS, Disney Channel, Fox, NBC, Paramount, Showtime, Sony/Columbia/Tri-Star, Studios USA, Universal, UPN and Warner Brothers.

In 2002, Stu created Strategic Operations, of which he is President, with a mission to provide “hyper-realistic” training for the military, law enforcement, and other organizations responsible for homeland security and public safety.

Using the “magic of filmmaking,” Strategic Operations creates tactical scenarios in great detail by controlling and manipulating both the physical and sensory environment. Design experts and public safety officials help movie industry professionals create a state-of-the-art, next generation tactical training environment unique in the U.S.

KIT LAVELL

As Executive Vice President, Kit Lavell has helped Strategic Operations grow to where in the last seven years the company has provided pre-deployment training support for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom to more than 300,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guard personnel.

Kit Lavell is a graduate of the University of Illinois, has done graduate work at California State University Fresno and the Naval Postgraduate School. He flew 243 combat missions as a Naval Aviator in Vietnam. He has written extensively on military and technology issues for newspapers and magazines. His book, Flying Black Ponies: the Navy’s Close Air Support Squadron in Vietnam, was published by Naval Institute Press.

The San Diego Union-Tribune published his six-part feature series, A Revolution in Warfare: Defending America in the 21st Century in the Sunday Insight Section.

Kit was President of an engineering and construction company that developed, among many innovative projects, a patented small-scale modular cogeneration system, which the company engineered, manufactured, installed, and maintained in hundreds of sites across the country.

Kit has been an executive with the City of San Diego, has served on the board of directors of the national POW/MIA Freedom Foundation, and has worked with disadvantaged veterans, for which he received a Presidential Citation. He has served on various boards and commissions for the City and County of San Diego

He was the recipient of the California Affordable Housing Award presented by the Governor for innovative housing projects for the elderly and handicapped.

He holds Airline Transport Pilot and Civilian Flight Instructor Ratings. His military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, 21 Air Medals, 5 Navy Commendation Medals with combat "V," Navy Achievement Medal with combat "V," and the Combat Action Ribbon.