CSM Kovar enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1982. Upon completion of recruit training at MCRD San Diego, CA, he was ordered to Aviation Ordnance training with MATSG 90 in Millington, TN. When the Marine Corps discovered he was color blind, he was reassigned to Camp Lejeune, NC, where he was assigned to the Personnel Clerks course. Graduating at the top of his class, PFC Kovar was transferred to Marine Barracks, Naval Air Station, Bermuda. During this tour of duty, he served as an Administrative Clerk, Security Force Guard, Color Guard Sergeant and cross-trained as a 0311 Rifleman. In 1985, Lance Corporal Kovar was recognized as the Security Forces’ Marine of the Quarter and was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Corporal.
Corporal Kovar re-enlisted in 1986 and reported to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron VMFA 112, Marine Air Group 41, Naval Air Station, Dallas, TX, where he served as the Administration Chief. In 1987, he was selected as the MAG-41 Marine of the Quarter and was promoted to Sergeant. In 1988, Sergeant Kovar was selected as the Marine of the Year for MAG-41 and subsequently received orders to Drill Instructor School at MCRD San Diego, CA, where he graduated in the top 10% of his class. Sergeant Kovar trained recruits for two years and completed both the Water Safety Survival Instructor’s (WSSI) course and the Marine Combat Instructor of Water Survival (MCIWS) course at Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, CA. After completing his successful tour as a Drill Instructor, Sergeant Kovar left active duty and began a civilian career in law enforcement with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office in Austin, TX.
In 1991, he re-enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve with 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines and served as a Rifle Platoon Sergeant, Company Gunnery Sergeant and Weapons Platoon Commander. In 1994, Staff Sergeant Kovar was selected as the NCOIC of a JTF-6 counternarcotics operation in northern California, which located and eradicated numerous illegal marijuana growing operations. In 1997, he was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and served as the Heavy Machine Gun Platoon Sergeant, Dragons Platoon Commander, and Battalion Operations Chief. He has attended Mountain Warfare Training in Bridgeport, CA, Desert Warfare Training in Twentynine Palms, CA and Jungle Operations Training Course at Fort Sherman, Panama. His Professional Military Education includes the Marine NCO Academy, Staff NCO Career Course, Advanced Staff NCO Academy Course and the First Sergeant’s Course. Promoted to First Sergeant in January 2000, he served as the Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines First Sergeant until his retirement in 2002.
While simultaneously serving in the Marine Corps Reserve, Jerry built his law enforcement career. He served as a Corrections Officer, a Drill Instructor for the Sheriff’s Convicted Offender Reentry Effort (CORE), and a Training Instructor. He graduated from the Basic Peace Officer Academy in 1995 and was promoted to Sergeant in 1997 and served as shift supervisor for 3 years. In 2000, he became the Accreditation Manager for the Travis County Sheriff’s Office. During this time, he honed his skill as an instructor teaching firearms and less lethal tactics and helped create C-TAC, the first full-time tactical unit for the Corrections Bureau, where he also served as a Team Sergeant. In 2006 he was selected as the Deputy Director of the Sheriff’s Training Academy and was the first-line supervisor for all academy instructors. Jerry was subsequently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and supervised the unit housing the maximum-security/high-risk inmate population. In 2009, Jerry was selected by Sheriff Greg Hamilton to serve as a Captain for the Downtown Austin Central Booking Facility and Jail. In 2015, he transferred back to the Corrections Tactical (C-TAC) Unit as the Commander and served in that capacity until his retirement from the Sheriff’s Office in 2022. It was during this tour of duty that he reenlisted in the Texas State Guard.
In 2018, First Sergeant Kovar joined the Texas State Guard and was assigned as the Commandant of the NCO Academy and the NCOIC of the Basic Instructor’s Course. Promoted to Sergeant Major in 2019, he volunteered for additional assignments such as Tactical NCO for both Officer Candidate School (OCS) and Basic Orientation Training (BOT), and as the NCOIC for Search and Rescue training. He was selected as the Command Sergeant Major for 3BDE in 2022. CSM Kovar has attained his Senior Military Emergency Management Specialist Badge, Master Search and Rescue Badge and Public Safety Diver Badge (3rd Class).
CSM Kovar has earned a Master of Criminal Science Degree from Texas State University, a Bachelor of Applied Arts & Sciences in Criminal Justice Degree from Midwestern State University, and an Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences in Criminal Justice Degree from Austin Community College. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy’s 237th Session, the Austin Police Department’s West Point Leadership Academy and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Academy. He holds a Master Peace Officer license and a Master Jailer license, and TCOLE Advanced Instructor and Firearms Instructor Proficiency licenses. He also served as Senior Master Instructor for Taser International and as a certified instructor on several law enforcement tactical equipment platforms. His professional certifications include Certified Corrections Executive (CCE) from the American Correctional Association, Certified Jail Manager (CJM) from the American Jail Association. He is also a graduate of the 25th National Jail Leadership Command Academy. CSM Kovar currently serves as an Adjunct Professor in the field of Criminal Justice at Austin Community College (since 2010) and previously served at Texas State University from 2010 to 2018. He is also the recipient of the United States Congressional Veterans Commendation in 2018.
Command Sergeant Major Kovar is most proud of his family: daughter Franchiska Bryant and son-in-law Bart Bryant; son Jon Kovar and daughter-in-law Sarah Waltman Kovar; and granddaughters Nora and June Kovar. In 2023, he returned to law enforcement and now serves as a Senior Investigator with the Texas Racing Commission. CSM Kovar is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking and is always ready for an adventure!