Lt. Col. Max Hinton is an Instructor of English in the Department of English and Fine Arts. In this role, he tailors and delivers the Dean of Faculty’s curriculum in support of the U.S. Air Force Academy outcomes and cadet development. He also leverages his operational expertise supporting cadet international and airmanship programs.

Lt. Col. Hinton entered the Air Force in May 2008 as a graduate of the Academy. He completed Undergraduate Pilot Training in March 2011 and was assigned to fly C-130H aircraft. After cross training in the KC-135R/T, he served as instructor pilot and Operations Group plans officer, where he oversaw contingency response and international partner engagement in the European theater. He completed the Foreign Area Officer (FAO) Fellowship and was certified as a FAO in February 2020. Prior to his current position, Lt Col Hinton was the Air Force Section Chief, Office of Defense Coordination, U.S. Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico.

Master of Arts, Regional Security Studies (Western Hemisphere), Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif. (2018-2019)

Master of Arts, Comparative Literature, University of Texas, Austin, Texas (2008-2009)

Bachelor of Science, Humanities, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (2004-2008)

Air Force Section Chief, Office of Defense Coordination, U.S. Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico (2022-2024)

Deputy Air Force Section Chief, Office of Defense Coordination, U.S. Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico (2020-2022)

KC-135R/T Pilot, Instructor Aircraft Commander, and Plans, Exercises, and International Partnerships Officer, 100th Operations Group, RAF Mildenhall, England (2015-2018)

C-130H Pilot, Aircraft Commander, and Assistant Flight Commander, 50th Airlift Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. (2011-2014)

Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2024)

Department of State Franklin Award (2023)

Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters (2012-2016)

NATO Medal (2012)

Comparative Literature, Latino/a Literature, Latin American Policy & Diplomacy