Navy SEAL Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator William Owens

Navy Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator William Owens, 36, of Peoria, Illinois, was a Navy SEAL assault-team leader assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Development Group at Dam Neck, Virginia. He died on January 29, 2017, in Yemen’s Bayda Governorate from wounds sustained during a raid against senior al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula leaders.

SCPO Owens fulfilled a lifelong ambition to serve his country by enlisting in the Navy in August 1998. After initially training as a cryptologic technician, he entered Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training and qualified as a Navy SEAL in 2002. SCPO Owens completed two deployments with SEAL Team One before being selected for the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, with which he completed ten additional deployments.

SCPO Owens was remembered for his leadership, enthusiasm and devotion to his family and teammates. A friend commented that “Ryan’s heart was as big as his voice” and that he was known for his positivity and enthusiasm.

SCPO Owens was survived by his wife and three children.