BY TAMECA JOHNSON
Freelance Writer
Derrick Hodges always knew he wanted to make a difference. He had big shoes to fill, joining the military nearly 20 years ago following in his father’s footsteps. He has by far exceeded expectations during his life of service.
Hodges now holds the title of Lieutenant Colonel Commander of the 310th Airlift Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base. He is the first African American to ever hold the position.
That leadership role puts him in charge of the unit responsible for transporting senior civilian and military leaders in the Department of Defense. This means he is responsible for the aircraft and personnel that transport such high profile leaders as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. As Commander, Lt. Col. Hodges is also responsible for the combat readiness of 60 crew members and the worldwide employment of three specially equipped C 37A aircraft.
His rise to the top has been years in the making and is due in large part to the standards set by his father, the late Chief Warrant Officer 4 Joseph Hodges, a 27-year retired Army veteran.
“I’ve been fortunate to have served with many fine officers and enlisted leaders,” Lt. Col. Hodges admits. “But my father has always been the leader and role model I try to emulate. He led by example and often shared insights from his career with me.” His father not only mentored him, but numerous other junior officers who later became well respected and accomplished Army officers.
Lt. Col. Hodges was born in Oklahoma, but has lived across the globe. He holds numerous degrees, including a Bachelor of Science from Tulane University, a Master’s in Aeronautical Science in Operations and Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master’s in Strategic Intelligence from National Defense University. He has logged more than 3,100 hours of flight time and is not even 40 years old yet.
Lt. Col. Hodges officially took over the position during a Changing of the Guard Ceremony Friday (June 22nd) at MacDill A. F. B. His mother, Joann Hodges, along with several other family members traveled long distances to witness the historic event.
“I can talk all day about my son,” she says. “But my first thought is ‘my husband would be so proud.’ He passed away in 2008 and looking back on it, he once said to me, ‘Having Derrick was the one something we did right.’ Derrick is our only child. This is just all surreal to me. I hope to live long enough after he retires and gets a job with a commercial airline, to be on a plane going anywhere and hear the pilot come on the intercom and introduce himself as ‘Captain Derrick Hodges.’ That’s when I’ll throw up my hands and say ‘God you can take me now!’”
Lt. Col. Hodges is married to Robin Rice-Hodges. They are the proud parents of three children and members of First Baptist Church of College Hill. One of his son’s recently graduated from Howard University and is commissioning into the United States Army as a 2nd lieutenant this week.
