Jerry Connolly trained as a fighter pilot and rose to the rank of Air Vice-Marshal in the Royal Air Force. He was a senior director in the UK Ministry of Defence responsible for RAF programming and planning. He was also the Senior Military Official to the High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Since leaving the RAF, he has built a successful career in the private sector in directorial and consultancy roles. He has more than 25 years of senior leadership and management experience in a number of leading organizations in the public and private sectors. His work is focused mainly in the aerospace, defense, homeland security, and innovative high-tech sectors. He is an expert on geo-political and strategic affairs and provides commentary and opinion on defence policy and aerospace/aviation matters in national media.

He holds board and advisory board roles in a number of UK and US companies focusing on strategic planning, corporate structure, and investment matters. He is, inter alia, the CEO of a UK aerospace company and a non-executive director of an international investment bank. Jerry is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies. Among other national decorations, he holds the Royal Air Force Cross.