Capt. Alex L. Hampton
Capt. Hampton is a native of Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1999 earning a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Business Administration. He was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program and earned his designation as a Naval Aviator in February 2002.
He completed initial fleet training in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with the “Gladiators” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106. Hampton began his operational flying in January 2003 with the “Sunliners” of VFA-81 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He deployed with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Hampton was then selected to attend the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and subsequently reported to Strike Fighter Weapons School Atlantic (SFWSLANT), where he served as the Air-to-Air Employment Subject Matter Expert as well as the Training and Standardization Officer.
Hampton reported back to the Sunliners in February 2008 for his Training Officer tour where he transitioned the squadron LOT 10 Hornets to the LOT 30 Super Hornet. He went on to serve as a Department Head in VFA-136, the “Knighthawks.” While with the Knighthawks, he deployed twice with CVW-1 aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn.
Following his Department Head tour, Hampton attended the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, earning a Masters of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies and graduating as a Gravely Scholar. He went on to serve as the Flag Aide to the commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and as the Aide-de-Camp to commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) /U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Hampton assumed command of VFA-27 September 2017 in Atsugi, Japan. He deployed three times throughout the Indo-Pacific area of operations onboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and moved the squadron permanently to Iwakuni, Japan. Hampton reported to the Pentagon to serve on the Joint Staff as the Deputy Division Chief for the J8 Studies, Analysis, and Wargaming Division and was hand selected to serve as the Deputy Executive Assistant to the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark A. Milley.
He has accumulated more than 3,800 total flight hours, 3,500 F/A-18 flight hours and 932 carrier arrested landings.
Hampton’s personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals, as well as various other service awards and ribbons.