Special Guest Speaker
Commander Hermon C. Cook III
Commander Hermon C. Cook hails from Richardson, TX, and holds a BBA in Marketing from Texas Tech University. He entered Naval Service in 1982, reporting to Pensacola, FL, for flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator at Naval Air Station Kingsville in 1984.
In 1985, Commander Cook received orders to Virginia Beach, VA, flying the F-14A Tomcat, where he deployed onboard USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67), completing an initial 42-month tour and two cruises to the Mediterranean. During this tour, Commander Cook graduated from Naval Fighter Weapons “TOPGUN” School, was named the Atlantic Fleet Pilot of the Year, and was credited with the first U.S. Navy Mig 23 kill during operations in the vicinity of Libya.
In February 1989, Commander Cook reported to the “Challengers” of Fighter Squadron 43, flying the F-16N and A-4E/F as an Adversary Instructor for the Navy. Commander Cook left active duty service in September 1990 and immediately took orders to Fighter Squadron 202 at Naval Air Station Dallas, TX, as a selected reservist, again flying the F-14A Tomcat. In 1999, Commander Cook made the transition to the FA-18 Hornet, and in November 2000 assumed the duty as the Commanding Officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 201, an FA-18 Hornet squadron based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth.
Commander Cook has logged over 3,300 hours and 430 carrier landings in seven different naval aircraft. He has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat Distinguishing Device, Meritorious Service Medal and several other personal and unit citations. He has retired from Naval Service and is currently employed as a Captain with Delta Air Lines, flying an A350. He is married to Michele Cook of Allentown, PA. Together, they have three children and reside in Oconee County, Georgia.
