Kevin Lacz

Kevin "Dauber" Lacz (born December 26, 1981) is a United States Navy SEAL veteran who served two tours in the Iraq War. His platoon's 2006 deployment to Ramadi has been discussed in several books, including Dick Couch's The Sheriff of Ramadi, Jim DeFelice's Code Name: Johnny Walker, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin's Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win and Chris Kyle's New York Times best-selling autobiography, American Sniper. Lacz's presence in the book led to his involvement in the production of and eventual casting in the Clint Eastwood-directed Oscar-winning biopic of the same name (starring Bradley Cooper).

Early life Lacz was born in Meriden, Connecticut, where he lived until the age of 12, at which point he moved to Middlefield, Connecticut. He attended Xavier High School in Middletown, Connecticut, an all-male private Catholic school, graduating in 2000. He enrolled at James Madison University in 2000 to pursue a career in medicine. For his actions on his 2006 deployment, Lacz was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with a Combat 'V.' In 2012, Lacz moved his family to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to pursue his Masters of Medical Sciences at Wake Forest University. He graduated in August 2014.

Because of his close working and personal relationship with Chris Kyle, Lacz was asked to contribute to his autobiography, American Sniper, through interviews. Kyle also discussed Lacz frequently when referencing the 2006 and 2008 deployments (as "Dauber"), laying the groundwork for Lacz's involvement in the production. He was hired to provide SEAL technical advising for the film. Bradley Cooper also convinced Clint Eastwood to allow Lacz to audition for the role of "Dauber," after which he was cast to play himself.

Lacz is the spokesperson for Hunting for Healing, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization he founded with his wife, Lindsey.

Lacz was appointed by Governor Rick Scott of Florida to the District Board of Trustees for Pensacola State College in 2015. Lacz is also a professional speaker represented by Greater Talent Network (GTN). His memoir about his 2006 deployment to Ramadi, The Last Punisher, was published on July 12, 2016.

In 2026, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that Lacz along with Richard Reder and Jason Griffin were charged with second-degree misdemeanor “conservation” charges for killing an federally protected American alligator with a power drill.