Lt Col Dennis F. Hale is the Commander, 349th Mission Support Group, 349th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, CA. The 349th Mission Support Group is the largest associate support group in AFRC with nearly 1,000 personnel and the only group to oversee three separate aerial port squadrons. In the role of Commander, Lt Col Hale is responsible for ensuring the readiness of all support missions, including civil engineering, security forces, logistics readiness, aerial port operations, and force support. Additionally, he ensures support for the wing’s 2,300 airmen.
Lt Col Hale enlisted in the Air Force in 1988. He was the John Levitow Award winner from Airman Leadership School and was selected for a commissioning program in 1994. He received his commission from the ROTC Program at Valdosta State University in 1996 where he graduated Sum Cum Laude. After spending the next five years in the Security Forces Command, he became a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. As an AFOSI Special Agent, Lt Col Hale served in numerous positions such as the Joint Drug Enforcement Team Leader, Fraud Branch Chief, and Detachment Commander. He served on personnel protective details for President Clinton and President Bush and was recruited by-name to lead classified investigations of detainees at the Detention Facility at Naval Air Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
In 2004, Lt Col Hale left active-duty Air Force to pursue a career in federal law enforcement where he spent the next 20 years investigating and enforcing our nation’s drug laws. In 2012, he returned to military service as a Traditional Reservist assigned as an Executive Officer at Travis Air Force Base, and returned to the Security Forces Command, at Beale Air Force Base shortly after. In September 2017, Lt Col Hale assumed command of the 349th Security Forces Squadron where he was instrumental in the deployment of 50 Security Forces members in support of Operation FREEDOM SENTINEL during RCP 08. Then, in 2019, he deployed over two hundred security forces airmen, himself included, to participate in Combatant Commander and special operations exercises on five continents. His leadership accomplishments were highlighted during the 2019 Unit Effectiveness Inspection where inspectors noted zero findings within the SFS and garnered three superior team awards while being lauded by the AFRC Inspector General as the best of fifty-two inspected units. His most noteworthy leadership accomplishment was earned when the 349 SFS was named the Outstanding SF Tenet Unit of the year and the AFRC Unit of the Year for 2020. In 2021, he transitioned to the IMA program where he was the Branch Chief of Integrated Defense at Headquarters, Air Mobility Command and in 2022 he returned to a Traditional Reservist position as the Security Forces Branch Chief at Headquarters, Fourth Air Force. In May of 2023, he returned to the 349 Mission Support Group as the Deputy Commander and was selected for his current assignment in February 2024.
EDUCATION
2023 PhD in Criminal Justice, Walden University – Magna Cum Laude
2021 Master of Arts in Philosophy, Walden University – Magna Cum Laude
2019 Air Command and Staff College, Air University 2018 Firearms Instructor School, Quantico, VA
2014 Master of Arts in Psychology, National University, Redding, CA – Cum Laude
2012 Field Training Agent Course, Quantico, VA
2010 Advanced Agent Course, Quantico, VA
2004 Drug Enforcement Administration Academy, Quantico, VA
2001 Air Force Office of Special Investigations Academy, Andrews AFB, MD – Distinguished Graduate 2001 Contingency Wartime Planning Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2000 Squadron Officer’s School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2000 Anti-Terrorism Level II, Elmendorf AFB, AK
1996 Ground Combat Skills Course Level IV, Camp Bullis, TX
1996 Security Police Officer’s Course, Lackland AFB, TX – Distinguished Graduate
1996 Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA – Sum Cum Laude 1994 Airman Leadership School, Moody Air Force Base, GA - Levitow award winner
1990 Associate of Science Degree, Community College of the Air Force, Misawa AB, JA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Three Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
National Defense Service Medal with One Bronze Star
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Hourglass Device
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association
National Tactical Officers Association
California Narcotics Officers Association
Shasta County Peace Officers Association
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Lieutenant Colonel – 2 September 2020
Major – 1 Oct 2014
Captain – 27 June 2000
First Lieutenant – 27 June 1998
Second Lieutenant – 27 June 1996