Donald Herman Hansen

Colonel Donald H. Hansen, USAF Retired, passed away on August 3, 2025, in London, England. Don was born in Crane, Texas, to loving parents Frances Wood and Ed Hansen. He was raised in the caring home of Jimmy and Frances Wood.

Don graduated from Rutherford Senior High School in Panama City, Florida, in 1969. He went on to attend The Citadel, graduating in 1973 as a Distinguished ROTC graduate and receiving his officer commission. He later earned his Master of Science in Business Administration from Troy State University in 1988.

Colonel Hansen completed Undergraduate Pilot Training in 1975, with his first assignment flying F-4 Phantoms in Torrejon, Spain. After a second tour in Europe, he was selected as the first Air Force F-18 exchange pilot assigned to El Toro MCAS, California. He later became an initial member of the F-117 Stealth Fighter Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nevada. His distinguished career also included assignments as Air Attaché in Argentina, instructor pilot to the Honduran Air Force, and Inspector General for 1st Air Force. As a command pilot, he logged over 5,000 hours in the F-4, F-5, F-18, F-117, and A-7 aircraft.

Don was predeceased by his first wife, Debbie; his father, Ed Hansen, his brother, Bill; and his parents, Frances and Jimmy. He is survived by his beloved wife, Valerie; his children Erika (Anthony), Donald (Dianna), Emilee (Travis), and Katie; seven cherished grandchildren; his sister, Mary Ellen; and brothers, James and Tony.

An avid golfer, Don played multiple times a week and celebrated a memorable hole-in-one. He loved to travel with Valerie, visiting all seven continents—his favorite being Antarctica.

A service to remember Don will be held on August 15th at Oak Lawn Funeral Home in Pensacola, Florida. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., followed by interment at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola Florida at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Don’s memory to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation (www.t2t.org).