Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Van Hook, PhD is Assistant Professor and Chief of the American and Policy Studies Division of the Department of Political Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. In addition to his academic duties, he is also a T-53 instructor pilot in the 557th Flying Training Squadron providing initial powered flight training and motivation to cadets who will be pursuing the Air Force’s rated career field.
A native of Orange County, California, he was a valedictorian of Calvary Chapel High School, Class of 1995. He graduated and received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. After graduating from pilot training in 2000 he was assigned as a KC-135 Stratotanker pilot and aircraft commander where he deployed in support of operations including Southern Watch in Iraq, Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraqi Freedom. Lt Col Van Hook also served as a T-6 instructor and evaluator pilot in the 85th Flying Training Squadron at Laughlin AFB, TX, where he held positions as a flight commander, chief of standardization/evaluation, and assistant director of operations. He is a command pilot with over 3,000 hours of flight time, including over 625 combat and combat support flying hours.
Lt Col Van Hook holds a doctorate in political theory and constitutional studies from the University of Notre Dame. He is also a distinguished graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA where he earned a Master of Arts in Security Studies. Matt and his wife Michelle have been married for 17 years and have four children, Kaden, Caleb, Kensington and Cora Mei.