New Commander Takes Over 1st Special Operations Wing
U.S. Air Force Col. Mark Hamilton took command of the 1st Special Operations Wing Oct. 6 during a ceremony at Hurlburt Field. He succeeded Col. Patrick Dierig, who had led the wing since February 2024. Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, presided over the transfer of authority. Hamilton, a Virginia Military Institute ROTC graduate commissioned in 2004, is a command pilot with more than 2,200 flight hours and deployments supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Inherent Resolve.
“Col. Hamilton’s proven leadership is just what the 1 SOW needs to ensure our Air Commandos remain ready to answer the Nation’s call,” said Lt. Gen. Conley. “We have a lot of work ahead and must continue to maximize Air Commando attributes of boldness, valor, and ingenuity to ensure that when called…we win.”
As commander of the 1 SOW with 20 years of Air Force service, Col. Hamilton will be responsible for preparing special operations forces for worldwide missions in support of joint and coalition objectives. The 1 SOW at Hurlburt Field is one of six Air Force active duty special operations wings which fall under AFSOC. Hurlburt Field employs more than 7,600 military and approximately 1,700 civilian personnel.
Previously, Col. Hamilton served as the 1 SOW’s Deputy Commander of Operations, where he was responsible for employing manned and remotely piloted fixed-wing aircraft, including the
AC-130J Ghostrider, MC-130J Commando II and MQ-9 Reaper. He also served as the primary operations advisor to Col. Dierig.
Air Force Enlisted Village Breaks Ground on Bob Hope Village 7
The Air Force Enlisted Village (AFEV) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for Bob Hope Village 7 on Friday, October 17 in Shalimar.
Okaloosa County Commissioner Drew Palmer served as the guest speaker. Brooke McLean, AFEV President and CEO, shared remarks on the organization’s history and mission, while Todd Simmons, Chairman of the AFEV Board of Directors, reflected on the present and future of the community. The ceremony also included a blessing of the ground and a turning of the soil with Lord and Son Construction, the project’s contractor.
Bob Hope Village 7 represents the next phase of growth for the Air Force Enlisted Village, expanding its ability to serve surviving spouses of retired enlisted Air Force members and retired couples. The new addition is planned to feature 51 modern, accessible residences—two bedrooms and two bathrooms plus dens—with connection to the existing Bob Hope Village 6 community spaces designed to enhance connection, comfort, and independence among residents.
Founded in 1968, the Air Force Enlisted Village is a private, nonprofit organization that provides safe, secure housing and compassionate care for surviving spouses of retired enlisted Airmen and Space Force Guardians. As of October 2025, AFEV is home to nearly 600 residents at Bob Hope Village and Hawthorn House, offering peace of mind and a true sense of community under the guiding principle of “Taking Care of Our Own.”
