Col. David G. Hanson is the Commander, Space Base Delta 1, headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. As commander, he leads a 3,600 member team providing Base Operating Support to more than 18,400 military, Department of Defense civilians and contractor personnel serving at 23 operating locations worldwide. These personnel execute critical U.S. Space Force missile warning; space domain awareness; space control; position, navigation and timing; satellite communications; electronic warfare; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and cyberspace missions.
Col. Hanson received his commission in as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Iowa State University. He has held various assignments in nuclear operations, satellite command and control, and higher education as well as staff assignments at NORAD and USNORTHCOM and Air Force Space Command. Col. Hanson was a competitor and assistant coach on the United States Armed Forces Military Pentathlon Team, competing in Europe against other NATO nations. The team competes in military-related events including rifle and pistol marksmanship, land and water obstacle courses, advanced land navigation and combat first aid.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
1998 Master of Aeronautical Science degree (with honors) in Operations and Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Fla.
1999 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
1999 Academic Instructor School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2000 Squadron Officer School, Distinguished Graduate and Top Squadron Graduate, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2007 Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2010 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Master of Arts, Strategic Studies (with Academic Distinction), Air University, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Leadership in Homeland Security Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard
University, Executive Education, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1994 – February 1995, student, Undergraduate Missile Training, 392nd Training Squadron,
Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
2. February 1995 – April 1999, Operations Support Flight Commander, instructor, evaluator, missile
combat crew commander, 742nd Missile Squadron, 91st Space Wing, Minot AFB, N.D.
3. April 1999 – July 2002, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Education Officer and Commandant
of Cadets, Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps, Detachment 250, University of Notre Dame,
Notre Dame, Ind.
4. July 2002 – August 2004, Operations Flight Commander, Crew Commander, NATO/Skynet Satellite
Vehicle Operator, 3rd Space Operations Squadron, 50th Space Wing, Schriever AFB, Colo.
5. August 2004 – July 2006, Commander, Detachment 5, 22nd Space Operations Squadron, Andersen
AFB, Guam
6. July 2006 – June 2007, student, College of Naval Command and Staff, US Naval War College,
Newport, R.I.
7. July 2007 – June 2010, Deputy Director of Staff, Executive Officer to the Director of Plans, Programs
and Analyses and Strategic Planner, HQ Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
8. July 2010 – July 2011, Commander, HQ Air Force Space Command Squadron, Peterson
AFB, Colo.
9. June 2011 – June 2013, Commander, 23rd Space Operations Squadron and Installation Commander
New Boston AFS, N.H.
10. July 2013 – June 2015, Associate Dean of Operations, Academic Instructor and Advisor, Air
Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. June 2015 – May 2016, student, Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
12. June 2016 – June 2020, Chief of Assessor & Authority Training Division, Chief of
Instructor Operations, Command Center Director, Evaluator, Contingency
Command Crew Chief of Operations, NORAD-USNORTHCOM, Peterson AFB and Cheyenne
Mountain AFS, Colo.
13. July 2020 – July 2021, Commander, 821st Air Base Group and Installation Commander, Thule AB,
Greenland
14. August 2021 – July 2022, National Reconnaissance Office Senior Field Representative to U.S.
Space Command, Schriever and Peterson Space Force Bases, Colo.
15. July 2022 – Present, Commander, Space Base Delta 1, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
August 2021 – present, National Reconnaissance Office Senior Field Representative to United States
Space Command, Schriever and Peterson Space Force Bases as a Colonel
June 2016 – June 2020, Chief of Assessor & Authority Training Division, Chief of Instructor
Operations, Command Center Director, Evaluator, Contingency Command Crew Chief of Operations,
NORAD-USNORTHCOM, Peterson AFB and Cheyenne Mountain AFS, CO as a Colonel
OPERATIONS INFORMATION
Command Space Professional; satellites operated: NATO III, NATO IV, Skynet IV
Missile Operations: 200 ICBM combat crew alerts; weapon systems: Minuteman III Command Data Buffer (CDB) and Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting (REACT)
Basic Parachutist (13 military and civilian jumps; static line and freefall)
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with ‘N’ device
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship
US Army Airborne Parachutist Wings
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 Air Force ROTC Education Officer of the Year
Air Force Space Command Crew Member Excellence Award
Military Pentathlon Competitor Decoration (awarded by the French military)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 14, 1994
First Lieutenant July 6, 1996
Captain July 6, 1998
Major December 1, 2004
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2009
Colonel February 1, 2016
(Current as of July 2022)