Dan Hampton is a highly decorated American author and retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Colonel. He has an impressive military career, having flown more than 150 combat missions over 20 years. Hampton received several awards for his tactical innovation and pioneered now-standard tactics in air combat. He is a graduate of the USAF Fighter Weapons School, USN Top Gun School, and USAF Special Operations School. His service includes flying missions during the Iraq War, Kosovo conflict, and first Gulf War, for which he received four Distinguished Flying Crosses with Valor, a Purple Heart, eight Air Medals with Valor, five Meritorious Service Medals, and many other citations.
After retiring from the Air Force in 2006, Hampton began writing novels, drawing upon his rich experience and clear writing style. He has published several articles in various defense and aviation-related journals, including The Journal of Electronic Defense, Air Force Magazine, and Airpower magazine. Additionally, he has written several classified tactical works for the USAF Fighter Weapons Review. Hampton is a frequent guest analyst on CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC, discussing foreign affairs, military, aviation, and intelligence issues. He is the author of the national bestsellers Viper Pilot and Lords of the Sky, as well as a novel, The Mercenary.