Col Matthew E. Hanson is the Deputy Commander of the 378 Air Expeditionary Wing. In this role, Colonel Hanson assists the commander in providing combat ready aircraft, aircrew, and associated combat support in support of theater plans and operations, including Operations INHERENT RESOLVE, SPARTAN SHIELD, and PROSPERITY GUARDIAN.
Col Hanson earned his commission and BS in Mechanical Engineering from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA in 2001. He has served as an RC-135U instructor Electronic Warfare Officer and A/OA-10 Pilot. He has served in a variety of operational to strategic staff positions including the 607 AOC, AFCENT/A5, and EUCOM/J5. Col Hanson was also the Commander, 705th Training Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL. Prior to his current position, Colonel Hanson was the Chief of Staff of the Joint Airpower Competence Center in Kalkar, Germany.
Col Hanson is an instructor EWO and senior pilot with over 1800 hours in the RC-135U, T-37, T-38, A-10 A/C, and E-11.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA
2002 Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, TX
2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2006 Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, TX
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2010 Master of Business Administration, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, TX
2012 Air Command and Staff College by correspondence, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2016 Master of Military Arts and Sciences, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS
2016 School of Advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth, KS
2018 Innovation and Strategy, Harvard Business School Executive Education, Cambridge, MA
2020 Master of Strategic Studies, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2020 Air War College, Grand Strategy Program, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2023 Executive Leadership Course, UNC Chapel Hill, NC
2023 Senior Officer Policy Course, NATO School Oberammergau, DEU
ASSIGNMENTS
- July 2001 – July 2002 Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph Air Force Base, TX
- August 2002 – July 2005 Plans and Tactics Officer, Instructor Electronic Warfare Officer, 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, Offutt AFB, NE
- August 2005 – February 2007 Student Pilot, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, TX
- March 2007 – December 2007 A-10 Student Pilot, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
- January 2008 – December 2009 Navigation Officer, Plans Officer, and later Wing Training Flight Commander, 25th Fighter Squadron and 51st Operations Support Squadron, Osan AFB, ROK
- January 2010 – May 2013 Executive Officer, Wing Flight Safety Officer/Acting Chief of Safety, 354th Fighter Squadron and 355 Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
- May 2013 – June 2015 Chief, Strategy Guidance Team, Strategy Division, 607th Air Operations Center, Osan AB, ROK
- June 2015 – June 2016 Student, School of Advanced Military Studies, Ft. Leavenworth, KS
- July 2016 – Nov 2017 Chief of Plans and Policy for Air Forces Central Command, Shaw AFB, SC
- December 2017 – July 2019 Commander, 705th Training Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
- July 2019 – July 2020 Student, Air War College Grand Strategy Seminar, Maxwell AFB, AL
- August 2020 – July 2022 Lead Contingency Planner, USEUCOM J5/Plans, Stuttgart, Germany
- July 2022 – July 2025 Chief of Staff & AFELM/CC, Joint Airpower Competence Center, Kalkar, Germany
- July 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, 378 Air Expeditionary Wing
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- July 2020 – July 2022, Lead Contingency Planner, USEUCOM J5/Plans, Stuttgart, Germany, as a Lieutenant Colonel
- July 2022 – July 2025, Chief of Staff & AFELM/CC, Joint Airpower Competence Center, Kalkar, Germany, as a Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Instructor EWO, Senior Pilot
Flight hours: More than 1,800
Aircraft flown: RC-135U, T-37, T-38, A-10 A/C, and E-11
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2006 Distinguished Graduate, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training
2013 Air Combat Command Flight Safety Officer of the Year
2020 Graduate with Highest Distinction, Air War College
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 18, 2001
First Lieutenant May 18, 2003
Captain May 18, 2005
Major December 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2016
Colonel September 1, 2022
(Current as of July 2025)