Commending Brigadier General Donald Wayne Hansen, USA, Ret.

Commending Brigadier General Donald Wayne Hansen, USA, Ret.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 23, 2026
Agreed to by the Senate, February 26, 2026
WHEREAS, Brigadier General Donald Wayne Hansen, USA, Ret., a distinguished resident of Loudoun County, celebrated his 92nd birthday on June 4, 2025, marking a lifetime of extraordinary military service, legal excellence, and unwavering dedication to the United States; and
WHEREAS, Donald Hansen graduated from the University of Colorado in 1956 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army, launching a distinguished legal and military career within the United States Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps; and
WHEREAS, during the Vietnam War, Donald Hansen served as assistant staff judge advocate for the 1st Infantry Division—the legendary “Big Red One,” which is the oldest continuously serving division in the United States Army—and later as staff judge advocate for the United States Army Support Command in Saigon; and
WHEREAS, during his tour in Vietnam, Donald Hansen once inspected a tunnel in Vietnam's Iron Triangle, bravely entering the collapsed structure after being handed a flashlight and pistol by a group of tunnel rats, a story that has become a lasting testament to his courage and leadership; and
WHEREAS, Donald Hansen continued his service as staff judge advocate for the 3rd Armored Division in Europe and, upon returning stateside, served as executive officer and later chief of the Government Appellate Division of the U.S. Army Legal Services Agency; and
WHEREAS, Donald Hansen had many other important assignments, including staff judge advocate at Fort Dix, chief of the Criminal Law Division for the Office of the Judge Advocate General, commander of the U.S. Army Legal Services Agency, and chief judge of the U.S. Army Court of Military Review; and
WHEREAS, in 1985, Donald Hansen was appointed assistant judge advocate general of the United States Army, the culmination of a remarkable military career characterized by integrity, valor, and distinguished service in the advancement of military justice; and
WHEREAS, on June 4, 2025, Chariots of Honor, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring military veterans, coordinated a birthday celebration in Donald Hansen's honor at Mission BBQ in Sterling, where his loving family and community members gathered in recognition of his service and legacy; and
WHEREAS, Donald Hansen's life of military leadership and public service serves as a model of patriotism and duty, inspiring generations of Americans to uphold the values of courage, justice, and devotion to the nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Brigadier General Donald Wayne Hansen, USA, Ret., on the occasion of his 92nd birthday; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Brigadier General Donald Wayne Hansen, USA, Ret., as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his achievements in service to the Commonwealth and the United States.