Colonel Daryl S. von Hagel is originally from Colorado. He received a Regular Army Commission as an Aviation Officer in 1998 from the University of North Dakota. His education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Studies from the University of North Dakota Center for Aerospace Sciences and a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the United States Army War College.
Upon his graduation from the Aviation Officer Basic Course, he was assigned to Camp Stanton, Korea where he served as an Air Cavalry Platoon Leader, III/V Platoon Leader, and Squadron Maintenance Officer in 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment.
Since his initial assignment, Colonel von Hagel has served in a variety of positions including Attack Platoon Leader, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion,10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York; S-1, HHC, 1st Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York; Platoon Trainer, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment, Fort Rucker, Alabama; Commander, HHC, 1st Battalion, 11th Aviation Regiment, Air Traffic Services Command, Fort Rucker, Alabama; Brigade Aviation Officer, HHC, 4th Brigade Combat Team (ABN), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska; S3 Operations Officer, Operations Group, Fort Polk, Louisiana; Executive Officer, Operations Group, Fort Polk, Louisiana; Observer Coach Trainer, Operations Group, Fort Polk, Louisiana; Airspace Management Officer, United States Army Africa / Southern European Task Force, Vicenza, Italy; Chief of Operations, G3, United States Army Africa / Southern European Task Force, Vicenza, Italy; Commander, 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, Hunter Army Airfield, GA; Senior Aviation Trainer, Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany; and most recently, Chief of Staff for the Command Assessment Program Directorate, Mission Command Center of Excellence, Fort Leavenworth, KS. Colonel von Hagel assumed command of 166th Aviation Brigade on 13 June 2022, Fort Hood, Texas under Division West, First Army.
He has four operational deployments – Operation Joint Guardian, Kosovo from 2001 to 2002, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq from 2006 to 2007, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010, and Operations Juniper Micron and Juniper Nimbus, Chad in 2014. Colonel von Hagel is a graduate of the Aviation Officer Basic and Captains Career Courses, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, and the Command and General Staff College.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (with one Oak Leaf Cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal (with five Oak Leaf Clusters), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Combat Action Badge, the Senior Aviator Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the Ranger Tab.
Colonel von Hagel and his wife Tammi have been married for 23 years and have one son – Brennan (15 years).