Colonel Hank Chilcoat is the Commander, 557th Weather Wing, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He leads 1,400 Airmen at 19 worldwide operating locations, conducting global weather operations to meet enduring and emerging requirements for all 11 Combatant Commands. The wing’s 11 squadrons converge with other Information Warfare units to generate insights on our adversaries while creating decision advantage through novel operational outcomes for Combatant Commanders and their component commanders across the competition continuum.

Col. Chilcoat received his commission in 2004 from the USAF Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. He has served various assignments at the Squadron, Wing, Field Operating Agency, Air Staff, and Interagency levels. Prior to his current position, he served as the Commander, 1st Weather Group, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He led 820 Airmen at seven worldwide operating locations conducting global weather operations to meet enduring and emerging requirements for Departments of the Air Force and Army, and all 11 Combatant Commands. He was also the Division Chief, Policy and Readiness for the Directorate of Air Force Weather, responsible for managing policy and operational readiness for the Departments of the Air Force and Army, and he was the Military Advisor to the Department of State’s Executive Secretariat, serving as the principal interlocutor with Secretary of Defense on the Secretary of State’s staff.

Col Chilcoat has deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. He is an advanced studies group graduate and operational planner from the Naval War College’s Maritime Advanced Warfighting School. 

EDUCATION 
2003 Bachelor of Science in Meteorology, Pennsylvania State University, State College 
2004 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 
2012 Master of Science, Meteorology, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif. 
2014 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence 
2016 Master of Arts, Defense and Strategic Studies, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I. 
2016 Maritime Advanced Warfighting School (MAWS), Naval War College, Newport, R.I. 
2021 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Washington D.C. 
2023 Executive Level Diversity and Inclusion, Georgetown University, Washington D.C. 

ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY 
1.    March 2004 – June 2006, Lead Meteorologist, 26th Operational Weather Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La. 
2.    June 2006 – April 2008, Wing Weather Officer, 78th Operations Support Squadron, Robins AFB, Ga.
3.    April 2008 – June 2010, Flight Commander, 78th Operations Support Squadron, Robins AFB, Ga.
4.    June 2010 – April 2012, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
5.    April 2012 – July 2012, Deputy Chief, Environmental Models Flight, 16th Weather Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
6.    July 2012 – June 2014, Flight Commander, 2nd Weather Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
7.    June 2014 – March 2015, Executive Officer, Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB, Neb.
8.    March 2015 – July 2015, Executive Officer, 557th Weather Wing, Offutt AFB, Neb.
9.    July 2015 – June 2016, Student, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I.
10.    July 2015 – September 2016, Student, Maritime Advanced Warfighting School, Newport, R.I.
11.    September 2016 – June 2018, Airpower Strategist, Directorate of Checkmate, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington D.C.
12.    July 2018 – June 2020, Commander, 28th Operational Weather Squadron, Shaw AFB, Sc
13.    July 2020 – June 2021, Student, National War College, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
14.    June 2021 – July 2023, Military Advisor, Executive Secretariat, Department of State, Washington D.C.
15.    July 2023 – June 2024, Division Chief, Policy and Readiness, Directorate of Air Force Weather, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington D.C.
16.    June 2024 – July 2025, Commander, 1st Weather Group, Offutt AFB, Neb.
17.    July 2025 – present, Commander, 557th Weather Wing, Offutt AFB, Neb.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
June 2021 – July 2023, Military Advisor, Executive Secretariat, Department of State, Washington D.C., as a Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS 
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant April 2, 2004
First Lieutenant April 2, 2006
Captain April 2, 2008
Major March 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2017
Colonel June 1, 2023

(Current as of August 2025)