Major Blake Hamilton

 

Major Blake Hamilton

Commander

 

Major Blake A. Hamilton is the commander of Detachment 3, 18th Weather Squadron, Fort Stewart, GA. In this position he ensures the combat mission readiness of a 38-person battlefield weather unit.  Maj Hamilton is also Staff Weather Officer for both the 3d Infantry Division and Fort Stewart/Hunter AAF Garrison.  In support of the 3d Infantry Division, Maj Hamilton provides focused, embedded mission support at home and abroad to the 3d Infantry Division and its subordinate units at Fort Stewart and Hunter AAF.  As the Garrison Staff Weather Officer, Maj Hamilton oversees airfield weather services, resource protection, and Emergency Operations Center support for Fort Stewart/Hunter AAF, associated range areas, and its 27 tenant units. 

Maj Hamilton received his commission in 2009 upon graduation from Iowa State University with a degree in meteorology.  His first assignment was the 25th Operational Weather Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base where he led a team of 60 weather forecasters responsible for Watches, Warnings, and Advisories along with airfield forecasts across the Western Air Defense Sector.  After this assignment, he served as the Flight Commander for the Vance Air Force Base weather flight under the 71st Operations Support Squadron where he was responsible for providing weather support to the Air Force’s forth busiest airfield complex enabling the graduation of 200 Air Force pilots per year.  From there, Maj Hamilton was assigned to the Air Force Operations Group as a staff weather officer providing world-wide weather integration for the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force.  He also served as an Air Force Duty Officer providing real time operational situational awareness to top Air Force leaders and the Joint Staff.  While at the Pentagon, he served as the Executive Officer to the Associate Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations for the Air Force.  Maj Hamilton also served for six months at the Resolute Support Flight Coordination Centre based in Eindhoven, Netherlands where he was responsible for scheduling with 5 Afghan airfields to ensure airspace clearance was given to aircraft entering Afghanistan airspace for operations in support of RESOLUTE SUPPORT. 

 

EDUCATION:  

  • 2009 - Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology; Iowa State University, IA
  • 2010 - Air and Space Basic Course; Maxwell AFB, AL
  • 2013 - Master of Art degree in Homeland Security; American Military University, Charles Town, WV
  • 2014 - Squadron Officer School; Maxwell AFB, AL

 

ASSIGNMENTS:  

  • July 2009 - August 2011, Weather Operations Officer, 25th Operational Weather Squadron; Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
  • August 2011 - June 2012, Flight Commander, 25th Operational Weather Squadron; Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
  • August 2012 - July 2015, Weather Flight Commander, 71st Operations Support Squadron, Vance AFB, OK
  • July 2015 - November 2017, Staff Weather Officer, Air Force Operations Group, the Pentagon, Arlington, VA
  • November 2017 - August 2018, Executive Officer, Air Force Operations Group, the Pentagon, Arlington, VA
  • August 2018 - July 2019, Executive Officer, Associate Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, the Pentagon, Arlington, VA
  • July 2019 - current, Commander, Detachment 3, 18th Weather Squadron, Fort Stewart, GA

 

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

  • Meritorious Service Medal
  • Joint Service Commendation Medal
  • Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
  • Air Force Recognition Ribbon
  • National Defense Service Medal
  • Afghanistan Campaign Medal
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border

 

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

  • Second Lieutenant: June 5, 2009
  • First Lieutenant: June 5, 2011
  • Captain: June 5, 2013
  • Major: April 1, 2019