Maj. Gen. Mitchell A. Hanson is the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. He advises on all matters, policies and programs relating to the direct operational planning, training, and command and control functions to deploy and employ regular and Reserve component combat forces, including more than 1,900 aircraft in support of U.S. security objectives.
Maj. Gen. Hanson received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1989. where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He began pilot training after graduating from the academy and was assigned to fly the A-10 Thunderbolt II. He continued his active-duty service until 1998 when he transitioned to the Air Force Reserve. Gen. Hanson has served in numerous positions at the squadron, group, wing, numbered air force, and combatant command levels, various leadership positions as an active duty, traditional reservist and individual mobility augmentee member. Before assuming his current position, Maj. Gen. Hanson was the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, 1st Air Force, (Air Forces Northern and Air Forces Space), Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
Maj. Gen. Hanson has flown the A-10 and F-16 in a variety of operational assignments and is a command pilot with more than 3,400 flying hours and over 200 combat hours. He has deployed in support of operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Noble Eagle, Willing Spirit and Enduring Freedom.
EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Science, International Affairs, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1994 Air Ground Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
1995 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1997 Master of Science, Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle University, Daytona, Fla.
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2015 Defense Support of Civil Authorities Course Phase II, U.S. Army North, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2022 Combined Forces Air Component Commander Course, LeMay Center, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 Space Executive Course, National Security Space Institute, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2022 Continuous Process Improvement for Executives, Institute for Defense and Business, Duke University, N.C.
2022 Senior Leader Security Seminar (SLSS), Dahlgren, Va.
2023 Advanced Senior Leader Development Seminar (ASLDS), Airlie House, Warrenton, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1989–September 1990, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. September 1990–January 1991, Student, Lead-in Fighter Training, Holloman AFB, N.M.
3. January 1991–May 1991, Student, A-10 Replacement Training Unit, 357th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
4. May 1991–May 1992, A-10 Pilot, 356th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Myrtle Beach AFB, S.C.
5. May 1992–September 1998, A/OA-10 Instructor Pilot, Assistant Weapons Officer, Safety Officer, and Functional Check Pilot, 358th Fighter Squadron, 333rd Fighter Squadron and 354th FS, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
6. October 1998–October 2000, A/O-A-10 Instructor Pilot, 706th FS, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans, La.
7. October 2000–December 2004, U.S. Air Force Academy Admission Liaison Officer, 9001st Air Reserve Squadron, Air Reserve Personnel Center, Denver, Colo.
8. December 2004–April 2006, A/OA-10 Instructor Pilot, 706th FS, NAS JRB, New Orleans, La.
9. April 2006–November 2011, Director of Operations, 47th FS, Barksdale AFB, La.
10. November 2011–June 2014, Commander, 76th FS, Deputy Operations Group Commander, 476th Fighter Group, Moody AFB, Ga.
11. June 2014–August 2016, Emergency Preparedness Officer - Florida, First Air Force (Air Forces Northern), Tyndall AFB, Fla.
12. August 2016–June 2018, Vice Commander, 301st Fighter Wing, Fort Worth NAS JRB, Texas
13. June 2018–March 2020, Commander, 301st FW, Fort Worth NAS JRB, Texas
14. March 2020–June 2021, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, 15th Air Force, Shaw AFB, S.C.
16. July 2021-August 2023, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, First Air Force (Air Forces Northern), and Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
17. August 2023–present, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,400
Aircraft flown: F-16, A/OA-10, T-37, T/AT-38
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two ‘M’ devices
NATO Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait
(Current as of April 2024)