Colonel Mark D. Hoover currently serves as Commandant of The Judge Advocate General’s School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. He leads a team of military and civilian professionals providing legal education and training for approximately 20,000 legal professionals, commanders, and other leaders throughout the Air and Space Forces and the Department of Defense.
Colonel Hoover was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, but grew up in Lawrence, Kansas. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1995 and received his law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1998. He was commissioned in 1999 through the Direct Appointment Program and is licensed to practice law in Kansas.
He has served three times as Staff Judge Advocate at the Center and Wing levels, as well as a Numbered Air Force and Wing/Base Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, a Major Command action officer, an Air Staff action officer at the Pentagon, and an Air Force Intern. Colonel Hoover has also deployed in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH (2001), IRAQI FREEDOM (2007), and ENDURING FREEDOM (2010), as well as the International Security Assistance Force (2013).
EDUCATION
1995
Bachelor of Science, Political Science, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
1998
Juris Doctor, University of Kansas School of Law, Lawrence, Kansas
1999
Commissioned Officer Training, Maxwell Air Force Base – Gunter Annex, Alabama
1999
Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2004
Squadron Officer School (PDE), Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2007
Air Force Intern Program (IDE), the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia
2009
Master of Military Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College Online Master’s Program (IDE), Maxwell Air Force, Alabama
2016
Air War College (SDE), by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1.
August 1999 – August 2001, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate and Claims Officer, 62d Airlift Wing, McChord Air Force Base, Washington
(March 2001 – June 2001, 363d Air Expeditionary Wing, Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia)
2.
August 2001 – July 2004, Chief of Military Justice and Chief of Administrative Law, 22d Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas
3.
July 2004 – July 2006, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, 423d Air Base Group, Royal Air Force Station Alconbury, United Kingdom
4.
July 2006 – June 2007, Air Force Intern, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia
5.
June 2007 – July 2009, Chief, Personnel Policy Branch, and Chief, Expeditionary Branch, Professional Development Directorate, Office of The Judge Advocate General, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia
(November 2007 – January 2008, 316th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Logistics Support Area Anaconda, Iraq)
6.
July 2009 – August 2011, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, 52d Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
(March 2010 – July 2010, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan)
7.
August 2011 – June 2012, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, 19th Air Force, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
8.
June 2012 – July 2014, Chief, Military Justice Branch, and Executive Officer to the Staff Judge Advocate, Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
(October 2013 – April 2014, Headquarters International Security Assistance Force, Kabul, Afghanistan)
9.
July 2014 – July 2016, Staff Judge Advocate, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
10.
July 2016 – July 2018, Chief, Military Personnel Law, and Chief, Administrative Law, Air Force Personnel Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
11.
July 2018 – July 2020, Staff Judge Advocate, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
12.
July 2020 – July 2022, Staff Judge Advocate, 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, California
13.
July 2022 – present, Director, Legal Information Services, Office of The Judge Advocate General, and Commandant, The Judge Advocate General’s School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
2015 Pacific Air Forces Base Legal Office of the Year
2020 18th Air Force Outstanding Legal Office of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
First Lieutenant 19 July 1999
Captain 19 January 2000
Major 1 August 2006
Lieutenant Colonel 1 April 2012
Colonel 1 March 2018
(Current as of November 2024)