Our Team

Greetings! I'm Jake. Professionally, I have had a lifelong journey in the mechanical realm, starting as a bicycle mechanic on college campuses. My path took me to becoming a tech for the FIAT cycling team and eventually led me in general aviation. I took that to the next lev4el by attending Spartan College of Aeronautics. After college, I landed an aerospace job in my hometown and am now actively engaged in a 5th gen fighter program.

Beyond the confines of the workshop, I'm an avid outdoorsman and adventurer, having spent two years exclusively living in a van & exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Colorado, the Southwest, and the West Coast. These experiences have fueled my passion for practical tools and their applications, especially in the context of living a life unencumbered by modern conveniences.

Whether due to my archival nature or my pursuit of self-sufficiency I am not sure, but I ultimately founded GRIDBASE, a venture dedicated to creating decentralized, autonomous, and collaborative technology. Our mission is to empower individuals to live without having to rely on proprietary infrastructure grids; Ultimately, fostering a lifestyle that seamlessly integrates technology with the essentials of daily living without having to be tethered to big tech companies and their downsides. 

Family is at the core of everything I do. I'm supported by my incredible wife, who has been a constant source of encouragement. Together, we are shaping the future by raising our son, whom I'm diligently training to surpass me in every way and become a more refined successor.

Outside the realm of mechanics and technology, I have a lifelong passion for finding, playing, and performing music. I love to seek out the perfect song to paint a moment with. You can catch a glimpse of the musical explorations on www.safauna.world, where I, along with some of my good friends, contribute to our annual taste maker playlists known as the "Safauna Classics". 

As a contributor to this blog, I'm thrilled to merge my love for tools with my hands-on expertise. Join us in exploring the intersection of craftsmanship, technology, and the art of living as we delve into the world of watches and their many inspiring off-shoots.

Drop me a line at info@gridbase.net


Holth @Holth_


30-something Midwest sales professional. Enjoyer of sunlight, watches, shooting, and motorcycles. Avid competitive shooter, and timepieces enthusiasts. I use my expensive things.


SQU has been a watch nerd since his younger days, as he became obsessed with his mother and father's collection of Seiko 5s. He became obsessed with Magnum PI, NATO Straps, 7s26 movements, and Quartz watches, and military style pieces, in no particular order.  He owns a small batch company watch design company, based on the design language of late 70's and early 80's quartz divers and other military inspired pieces. He considers himself a middle finger to the cardigan wearing/IPA sipping modern watch collecting paradigm. His main collecting areas are quartz watches, seiko 5's, micro brands, and because he's a broke watch snob, OMEGA. 


Joe @Seikoded

If watch collecting is an illness, it’s endemic over here at SeiKoded and I’m here to spread it…

Drifting from rabbit hole to niche nook, I’ve certainly been on a winding collecting journey; much like the rest of the ‘sick’ individuals in this time based space. 

I like to mod watches, I like to buy watches, I like to talk about watches. Also call it how I see it most days of the week.

If it’s Japanese or mil-spec, it’ll pique my interest but I have room for our Swiss friends too. I enjoy critiquing those blurbs, designs, stunts or prices within the industry that reek of a Bull’s rear end. 

Whatever I’m up to at any given point, you’ll find it at seikoded.com

Larry serves as a Psychological Operations professional within U.S. Army Special Operations. With ten years of Active Duty experience, he deployed throughout the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) and U.S. Indo-Pacific (USINDOPACOM) Areas of Responsibility (AOR). Larry is fortunate to conduct joint-combined operations with sister services, the interagency, and foreign allies from the United Kingdom, Australia, and France. Aside from invaluable professional growth, Larry notes that everyone’s “watch game is absolute fire”. His watch collecting journey started in 2015, when he noticed a friend’s Rolex Submariner given by his father as a family tradition for graduating college. He shortly purchased his first automatic watch, his Seiko SKX007 nicknamed “War Dog”. Larry’s SKX accompanied him in every deployment, training exercise, and course that allowed timepieces. Throughout the years, his passion encompasses horology as a whole: a brand’s history, horological advancements (whether mechanical or quartz), and marketing. As a PSYWAR practitioner, Larry enjoys studying how watch brands continue to entice existing and potential customers to purchase archaic technology in the age of smartphones and smartwatches. 
	In 2021, a few members of PSYWAR conducted a special project with Christopher Ward’s C63 Sealander Automatic to create “PSYWARD”. Only limited to 25 selected customers including Larry, the timepiece generated outstanding buzz throughout the PSYWAR Regiment. In 2023, Larry decided to create the instagram @psywarwristcheck to showcase the various watches throughout the Regiment, whether in garrison or forward deployed. He used instagram as a platform to advertise and host the “PSYWARD GMT” special project with Christopher Ward, slated for delivery in Spring 2024. Larry’s instagram is also used to educate fellow Soldiers on various watches from all price points. He hopes that his recommendations and content will increase watch enthusiasm and inclusion without the pressure to spend outside means. Larry does prioritize durability “in case you have a meeting with some General Officer at 0900, but final manifest is at 1000”. 
	Larry is thrilled to join the Recon Team Watch Blog family and hopes his story-telling approach can provide an entertaining twist to timepiece talk with its many “complications”.  
He has over 11 watches, but his frequent flyers are “War Dog”, “PSYWARD”, Grand Seiko SBGX261, Breitling Aerospace, and the Casio AW80 that his parents gifted him in 2010 that “refuses to quit”.

Dan is current serving British Army Photographer. He has deployed all over the world on operations from the Middle East, the Mediterranean and Africa. He started collecting watches in 2012, his collection centres upon watches used in a military context. His collection is as varied as his military career to date and also includes multiple special project and limited edition watches. He also runs a successful independent watch podcast ‘The Zulu Time Podcast’. 

The ZT Podcast Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-zulu-time-podcast/id1497529473

ZTP Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4JCYXahqWtuXJYtsDD0pfM?si=H6Lyua2VS5KuLvBESj8PhA 


Rye @Rypaq

Ryley is a passionate fan of using gear in the outdoors and traveling. His job as a civil engineer enables him to test in a variety of environments. In his free time, Ryley enjoys hiking, camping, and photography. 


Justin @ReconDials

My love for watches started when I was in the Air Force and the rest is history. I am an avid outdoorsman. Enjoying the hills of North Texas.