Capt. Don Hursey, a pilot in the U.S. Army, is a visiting military fellow at The Washington Institute. Most recently, he was the commander of Alpha Company, 224th Military Intelligence Battalion during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Captain Hursey's previous assignments include service as assault platoon leader and company executive officer in the 82nd Airborne Division; regimental aviation liaison officer; and battalion and brigade assistant operation's officer. He has participated in Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti (1995-1996), Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan (2002), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003 and 2006-2007).
The recipient of numerous U.S. and foreign military decorations, he has been awarded the Bronze Star and the Air Medal.
Captain Hursey has flown more than 1,200 flight hours and is rated in both rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, including the TH-67, OH-58 A/C, and UH-60 A/L Blackhawk helicopters and the Cessna 172 and C-12 Huron airplanes.
He holds a bachelor's degree in political science.
Captain Hursey and his wife, LaSundra, have one young daughter.
Expertise: U.S. Army aviation employment, including rotary and fixed-wing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
