Colonel Jesse L. Hamilton is the Deputy Commander, Tenth Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. The command operates across multiple domains that include all fighter, bomber, special operations, rescue, airborne warning and control, fighter and bomber flying-training missions, combat air operations battle staff, remotely piloted aircraft, space and cyber units in Air Force Reserve Command.
Colonel Hamilton received his commission from Indiana State University in May 2001. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours including over 1,500 combat hours. He has deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, the United States Pacific Command’s Continuous Bomber Presence, and multiple Bomber Task Forces.
Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Hamilton was the commander of the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Science, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Ind.
2005 Advanced Instrument School, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
2006 Flight Safety Officer School, Kirtland AFB, Nev.
2007 USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2010 Master of Business Administration, Trident University, Cypress, Calif.
2019 Air War College, by correspondence
2022 Reserve Component National Security Course, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2025 China and the Indo-Pacific Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Capitol Hill Club, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1.June 2001 - August 2001, Executive Officer, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
2.Aug 2001 – September 2002, Student Pilot, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
3.September 2002 – May 2003, B-1B Student Pilot, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
4.May 2003 – July 2007, Chief of Safety, B-1B Instructor Pilot, 34th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
5.July 2007 – December 2007, Student, 77th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School, Dyess AFB, Texas
6.January 2007 – March 2009, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, B-1B Evaluator Pilot, 34th BS,
Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
7.March 2009 – September 2014, Assistant Director of Operations, B-1B Evaluator Pilot, 77thWPS, USAF Weapons School, Dyess AFB, Texas
8.October 2014 – October 2015, Director of Operations, B-1B Evaluator Pilot, 307th Bomb Wing, Det. 1, Dyess AFB, Texas
9.October 2015 – April 2017, Director of Operations, B-1B Evaluator Pilot, 345th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
10.April 2017 – September 2019, Commander, B-1B Evaluator Pilot, 345th BS, Dyess AFB, Texas
11.October 2019 – February 2020, Student Pilot, Rotary Wing Fundamentals, 23rd Flying Training Squadron, Fort Rucker, Ala.
12.March 2020 – September 2022, Commander, HH-60G Pilot, 943d Rescue Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
13.September 2022 – June 2025, Commander, HH-60G Evaluator Pilot, 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Space Force Base, Fla.
14. June 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: more than 4,000 hours, including over 1,500 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, TH-1H, B-1B, HH-60G, HC-130J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
(Current as of July 2025)