Col Kelly Hobgood is the Deputy Commander of Operations for the 492d Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida. She is responsible for enterprise-wide special operations aviation training, executing a $169 Million flying hour program, flying 33.5 thousand hours annually with 26 aircraft across four weapon systems to include the AC-130J, MC-130J, C-146A, and U-28A. She is responsible to the 492d SOW Commander for ensuring Air Commandos are trained and mission-ready to contribute significantly to the success of special operations efforts across multiple theaters.

Colonel Hobgood received her commission through the Officer Training School (OTS) program after graduating from the University of Sioux Falls. After graduating OTS, she attended Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training (JSUNT) at Randolph AFB, Texas followed by the MC-130H Formal Training Unit at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. Colonel Hobgood’s operational assignments include the 15th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida, the 1st Special Operations Squadron, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan, and the 14th Weapons Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida. She has deployed multiple times in support of Counter Narcotics operations, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM-Philippines, and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Prior to her current position, Col Hobgood was the Commander, 492d Special Operations Group, Duke Field, Florida.

Colonel Hobgood is a Master Navigator with more than 2,100 combined hours in the T-43A, T-1A, T-6A, MC-130P, and MC-130H aircraft. She is married to Patrick Hobgood of Wellington Florida, and they have two sons, Alexander and Dylan, and two daughters, Leila and Amelia.

EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Exercise and Sport Science, University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2001 Air Force Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2001 Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
2002 MC-130H Formal Training Unit, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2006 Weapons Instructor Course, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Master of Arts, Human Relations, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2016 School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 U.S. Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. November 2000 – March 2001, Officer Candidate, Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2. March 2001 – December 2001, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, 563rd Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
3. December 2001 – August 2002, Student Electronic Warfare Officer, MC-130H Formal Training Unit, 551st Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
4. August 2002 – January 2006, Instructor Electronic Warfare Officer, 15th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (January 2003 – April 2003; August 2003 – November 2003; September 2004 – November 2004; October 2005 – December 2005, Data Mask)
5. January 2006 – June 2006, Student, Weapons Instructor Course, USAFWS, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
6. June 2006 – December 2006, Weapons Officer, 15th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (July 2006 – November 2006, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component Command, Joint Operations Cell Chief, Air Base Balad, Iraq)
7. December 2006 – June 2008, Executive Officer, 353rd Special Operations Group, Kadena AB, Okinawa Japan
8. June 2008 – June 2009, Chief Standardizations and Evaluations and Evaluator Electronic Warfare Officer, 1st Special Operations Squadron, Kadena AB, Okinawa Japan (September 2008 – October 2008, Data mask)
9. June 2009 – February 2010, Chief Group Weapons and Tactics and Weapons Officer, 353rd Special Operations Group, Kadena AB, Okinawa JP (October 2009 – January 2010, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component Command, Operations Officer, EAAB Air Base, Philippines)
10. February 2010 – December 2011, USAFWS Evaluator Electronic Warfare Officer, 14th Weapons Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
11. December 2011 – April 2013, Chief Electronic Warfare Officer, Standardizations and Evaluations, Command Electronic Warfare Officer, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (September 2012 – December 2012, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component Command, Planner, Bagram AB, Afghanistan)
12. April 2013 – June 2014, Executive Officer, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
13. June 2014 - June 2015, Student, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kans.
14. June 2015 – July 2016, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
15. July 2016 – August 2018, Chief, Transregional Support Team – China, Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Tampa, Fla.
16. August 2018 – March 2019, Student, Instructor Combat Systems Officer Training, 451st Flying Training Squadron, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
17. March 2019 – May 2019, Commander’s Action Group, 451st Flying Training Squadron, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
18. May 2019 – November 2019, Deputy Commander, 479th Flying Training Group, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
19. November 2019 – June 2021, Commander, 479th Student Squadron, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
20. June 2021 – May 2022, Student, U.S. Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
21. May 2022 – July 2023, Chief, Strategic Plans, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
22. July 2023 – January 2024, Commander, 492nd Special Operations Group, Duke Field, Fla.
23. January 2024 – Present, Deputy Commander of Operations, 492d Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2016 – August 2018, Chief, Transregional Support Team – China, Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Tampa, Fla. as a lieutenant colonel

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight Hours: More than 2,100, including more than 490 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: T-6A, T-43A, MC-130H, MC-130P, T-1A

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Achievement Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant March 2, 2000
First Lieutenant March 1, 2002
Captain March 1, 2004
Major December 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2016
Colonel August 1, 2021

(Current as of May 2024)