LtCol Hayward was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps in June 1981 at the University of Washington. He was designated a Naval Aviator in July 1983. Completing A-4M jet training in December 1984 he reported to his first operational squadron, VMA-223, at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina. In 1987 LtCol Hayward was selected for transition to the AV-8B aircraft. In June 1989, he deployed with 26 MEU(SOC) aboard USS Nassau. In August 1990, he again deployed aboard USS Nassau for Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm and participated in the first U.S. AV-8 sea based combat missions. In 1995 LtCol Hayward was assigned a three-year joint tour at US Strategic Command in Omaha, Nebraska. During this tour he performed duties as Intelligence Planner for the Airborne Command Post and as the Battle Staff Operational Test Director for the Navy's new E-6B aircraft. In 1998 LtCol Hayward underwent refresher training in the AV-8BII+ radar variant. Deploying with the 26 MEU(SOC) in April 1999 as the AV-8 officer-in-charge, his 6-plane detachment flew sea based combat missions over Kosovo and Bosnia supporting Operation Allied Force. LtCol Hayward served as Commanding Officer of VMA-231 from April 2000 through November 2001. In January 2003 he deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom with II Marine Expeditionary Brigade / Task Force Tarawa. Serving as the Deputy Fires Officer he participated in the liberation of Iraq and the battles for An Nasiriyah and south central Iraq. LtCol Hayward flew over 2500 hours in tactical jet aircraft with 400 day and night shipboard landings and 20 combat missions in two separate air campaigns. Personal decorations included the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal Strike with Numeral 1, Navy Commendation Medal with gold star, and Combat Action Ribbon. Retiring in 2007, after 26 years of military service, he joined Lockheed Martin Aeronautics to test and evaluate the mission effectiveness of F-35B Lightning II fifth-generation fighter.