Ben “Lawman” Hancock retired from the Marine Corps at the rank of Colonel in 2013 after 30 years of active duty service.  He is currently a Captain with Delta Air Lines and lives in New Bern, NC with his wife Donnette. They have 5 children and 3 grandchildren.

Ben is the son of a career Army Green Beret soldier and lived in Germany, Japan and many states in the US as a child.  He worked full-time as a uniformed trooper with the Arizona Highway Patrol for four years while attending college.  He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in May 1983. He was designated a Naval Aviator in January 1986 and after AV-8B Harrier training, he deployed to the Mediterranean Sea cruise aboard the USS Guam in 1988 and also did a Western Pacific deployment to Iwakuni, Japan in 1989.  Upon returning from Japan, Captain Hancock was assigned as a Harrier Instructor Pilot.  In August 1990, Captain Hancock was transferred back to VMA-331 for a deployment on the USS Nassau in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm where he flew combat missions over Kuwait and Iraq.  Following Desert Storm, Captain Hancock deployed back to the Mediterranean on the USS Wasp.  In November 1991 he transferred to Naval Air Station Willow Grove, PA where he flew the A-4M Skyhawk attack.

In July 1993 Captain Hancock was selected to fly with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.  He flew the F/A-18 Hornet as the Right Wingman for the 1994 and 1995 air show seasons and was promoted to Major. As a Blue Angel he had the very rewarding opportunity to spend time visiting hospitals, schools and community functions in each air show city.  A highlight each Friday was visiting with the Make-a-Wish Foundation guests.  Colonel Hancock has continued to visit with schools and community organizations to share his Blue Angel and military service experience with students and people of all ages.

After the Blue Angels Major Hancock again flew the Harrier with the world-famous Black Sheep squadron and deployed to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and the Persian Gulf onboard the USS Boxer.  Upon return to the States, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and assumed command of Marine Attack Squadron 231, the “Ace of Spades”, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Western Pacific deployments.  After command he went to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan where he served as the Wing Operations Officer.  During this tour he helped orchestrate the US military humanitarian and disaster relief response to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.  He was promoted to Colonel in February, 2005 and took command of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, AZ, where he flew the F-5 fighter jet as an aggressor pilot, the C-12, and HH-1N Huey helicopter with the Yuma Search and Rescue squadron.

Col Hancock’s final assignment took him back to the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing in North Carolina where he served as the Assistant Wing Commander for 5000 Marines and Sailors in Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan during a one year deployment in 2011-2012 where he had the unique opportunity to fly combat sorties in the MV-22 Osprey, AH-1W Cobra, CH-53E Super Stallion, CH-53D Sea Stallion, UH-1Y Huey, and KC-130J Hercules aircraft in support of US and NATO coalition troops.  He finished his tour back in Cherry Point as the Wing Operations Officer.

Upon retiring from the Marine Corps in 2013 Ben flew combat support missions in Afghanistan in the King Air 350i aircraft as a contract pilot for L3 conducting day and night Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions in support of US Special Operations forces prior to being hired by Delta Air Lines.

Ben has accumulated over 10,000 hours of mishap-free flight time.  His personal military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of the Legion of Merit, three awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, Strike Flight Air Medal, three awards of the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, and numerous unit and campaign awards.