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Hurlburt Field

Hurlburt Field is a installation located in , immediately west of Mary Esther and part of the complex. It serves as the headquarters for (AFSOC) and the primary base for the (1st SOW), which conducts specialized aviation missions in support of global forces. The base spans approximately 6,000 acres along the in the , approximately 35 miles east of Pensacola, and supports a total population exceeding 25,500 (as of fiscal year 2024), including approximately 7,900 active-duty personnel, 1,800 civilians, 800 reservists, 2,200 contractors, and 12,800 family members. Originally established in the early 1940s as Eglin Auxiliary Field No. 9 for pilot and gunnery training during , the field was named Hurlburt Field in honor of Donald Wilson Hurlburt, an Army Air Forces officer killed in a training crash at Eglin Field on October 1, 1943; the name became official on January 13, 1948. Throughout the and beyond, it evolved into a hub for , with the activation of the 4400th Combat Crew Training Squadron in 1961 to train Air Commandos, leading to the formation of the 1st Air Commando Wing in 1963 and its redesignation as the in 1968. The base has played pivotal roles in major conflicts, including Operation Urgent Fury in (1983), Operation Just Cause in (1989), Operation Desert Storm (1991), and ongoing global missions, while hosting AFSOC headquarters since 1990. Today, Hurlburt Field accommodates over 40 tenant units, including the 505th Wing and the , focusing on airpower for infiltration, exfiltration, resupply, and precision strikes in austere environments.

Overview

Location and Geography

Hurlburt Field is situated in , immediately west of the town of Mary Esther and adjacent to as part of its auxiliary fields. The installation encompasses approximately 6,700 acres, with significant portions consisting of undeveloped land and forested wetlands that sustain a variety of wildlife, including black bears, alligators, and the federally threatened flatwoods salamander. Positioned along the Florida Panhandle's Gulf Coast, Hurlburt Field lies in close proximity to the , bordered on the south by Santa Rosa Sound and integrated into the Crestview–Fort Walton Beach–Destin metropolitan statistical area. The base's environmental context features northern wetlands, such as the East Bay River Swamp, and southern coastal influences, including over 3,400 acres of jurisdictional wetlands, flatwoods, and cypress dome swamps that enhance .

Mission and Role

Hurlburt Field serves as the headquarters of the (AFSOC), established there on May 22, 1990, and is the primary base for executing specialized air operations in support of global U.S. military objectives. As home to the , the installation focuses on rapidly planning and executing contingency operations that enable forces (SOF) worldwide. The field was named in honor of 1st Lt. Donald Wilson Hurlburt, a U.S. Army Air Forces pilot who died in a training accident on October 1, 1943, at Eglin Air Force Base's Auxiliary Field No. 9, the site's original designation. The core missions at Hurlburt Field emphasize infiltration and of SOF personnel and equipment into hostile or denied areas, alongside resupply and to sustain operations in austere environments. Precision fires, delivered through integrated air support, provide and targeted strikes to protect ground forces during high-risk missions. These capabilities support AFSOC's broader roles in air operations, agile , and foreign internal defense, ensuring SOF teams can operate effectively across diverse theaters. Strategically, Hurlburt Field's location adjacent to enhances its integration with larger testing and training resources, amplifying its role in global . The installation employs more than 7,900 and about 1,700 civilians, forming a critical hub for AFSOC's worldwide deployments and mission sustainment. This workforce drives the command's ability to provide flexible, responsive support to unified combatant commands, underscoring the field's pivotal contribution to U.S. .

History

Establishment and Early Years

Hurlburt Field was constructed in 1942 as Eglin Auxiliary Field No. 9, one of several small satellite airfields developed within the expansive Eglin Air Force Base complex in Florida to support preparatory training activities amid escalating World War II tensions. This auxiliary field was established specifically for basic pilot training and gunnery practice, utilizing the relatively undeveloped coastal terrain near Mary Esther to accommodate minor flight operations without overburdening the primary Eglin facilities. The site's development reflected the rapid expansion of U.S. Army Air Forces infrastructure in the early 1940s, prioritizing cost-effective auxiliary sites for foundational aviation skills amid national mobilization efforts. Prior to its formal naming, underwent initial administrative designations tied to its role as an extension of Eglin, with completed to enable immediate use for elementary flight by late 1942. A pivotal influence on the field's identity emerged from the service of Donald Wilson Hurlburt, an Army Air Forces pilot stationed at Eglin who contributed to testing and missions in the before a fatal accident on October 1, 1943, when his AT-18 aircraft crashed during takeoff at Eglin Field. In recognition of his dedication, the auxiliary field was named Hurlburt Field informally starting in March 1944, with the official designation occurring on January 13, 1948, honoring Hurlburt's contributions to aerial operations development. Throughout the late 1940s, Hurlburt Field continued as a subordinate training outpost under Eglin, focusing on basic aviation exercises while falling into partial disuse postwar. Administrative separation from Eglin Air Force Base occurred in the early 1950s, with reactivation and independent status formalized by 1955, allowing for renewed construction and distinct operational identity amid the Air Force's reorganization as a separate service branch. This transition laid the groundwork for expanded roles in subsequent eras.

World War II and Postwar Developments

During , Hurlburt Field, then known as Eglin Auxiliary Field No. 9, served primarily as a small auxiliary installation supporting the main Eglin Army Air Field in northwest . It facilitated pilot and gunnery training as part of the broader Eglin complex, which expanded into one of the largest U.S. facilities by war's end. The field provided auxiliary support for tactical operations, including those involving the medium bomber, whose crews underwent rigorous training in the Eglin range to master high-speed, low-altitude bombing tactics essential for European and Pacific theaters. These activities emphasized precision strikes and coordination with ground forces, contributing to the Army Air Forces' preparation for medium missions. A persistent claims that Jimmy Doolittle's Raiders trained their B-25 Mitchell bombers at Hurlburt Field prior to the 18 April 1942 Tokyo , but historical evidence debunks this. The Raiders actually conducted their critical carrier takeoff and navigation exercises at Eglin Auxiliary Fields 1 (later Wagner Field) and 3 (later ), leveraging the isolated runways north of the main Eglin base for secrecy and over-water practice. Aerial photographs of Hurlburt from 1943—over eight months after the —show no evidence of B-25 operations, confirming the field's limited role at that time. Following the war's end, Hurlburt Field was inactivated in amid widespread of auxiliary installations, falling into disuse as surplus Army Air Forces facilities were repurposed or mothballed. It remained largely inactive through the late and early , with minimal maintenance amid shifting postwar priorities toward . The field was reactivated on 1 April 1955 under , welcoming the 17th Bombardment Wing (Light) from Miho Air Base, , to establish a permanent presence. Equipped initially for the but transitioning to the due to operational issues with the B-57, the wing focused on light bombardment training to support tactical air operations. This reactivation marked early 1950s developments in enhancing U.S. Air Force capabilities for and , aligning with 's emphasis on flexible, rapid-response forces amid tensions. The wing conducted routine exercises over the expansive Eglin ranges, honing skills in low-level attacks and coordination with units to prepare for potential conventional conflicts.

Cold War Era

During the , Hurlburt Field emerged as a vital testing ground for and systems, with activities spanning from the late 1940s to 1974. Postwar evaluations of the JB-2 , an American pulsejet-powered derived from the V-1, were conducted at the field and nearby Santa Rosa Island, building on wartime prototypes to refine guidance and propulsion technologies for strategic deterrence. These tests contributed to early advancements in unmanned aerial vehicles and standoff weapons amid escalating tensions with the . In 1958, the 4751st Air Defense Wing activated at Hurlburt to operationalize the , a ramjet-powered designed to intercept enemy bombers; the wing launched the first Bomarc from Santa Rosa Island in 1959, validating its supersonic intercept capabilities before the wing's inactivation in 1962 and the program's phaseout in 1972. Hurlburt Field also supported tactical bombardment operations through the 17th Bombardment Wing, Tactical, which arrived in 1955 for training in light and medium bombing missions. The wing equipped with Douglas B-66 Destroyers and Martin B-57 Canberras to simulate and strikes, emphasizing rapid deployment and precision in a nuclear-age threat environment. These activities honed skills for potential conflicts in and , with the unit conducting routine exercises until its relocation in 1958. By the late and into the , Hurlburt shifted from conventional bombardment to and special tactics training, reflecting evolving U.S. doctrine against irregular threats. This transition culminated in the activation of the 4400th Combat Crew Training —nicknamed ""—on April 14, 1961, at the field, where it prepared aircrews for operations using propeller-driven aircraft like North American T-28 Trojans, Douglas B-26 Invaders, and C-47 Skytrains for advisory and combat roles under Operation Farm Gate. The squadron introduced specialized tactics, including and armed reconnaissance, marking Hurlburt's pivot to support; by June 1963, it expanded into the 1st Air Commando Wing, incorporating A-1 Skyraiders for enhanced ground attack capabilities.

Special Operations Era

The transformation of Hurlburt Field into a dedicated special operations hub began in the late 1960s, building on its tactical foundations from the Cold War era. On July 8, 1968, the 1st Air Commando Wing, originally established on June 1, 1963, was redesignated as the 1st Special Operations Wing under the newly formed U.S. Air Force Special Operations Force, marking a shift toward specialized unconventional warfare capabilities. This redesignation solidified Hurlburt's role in supporting global special operations missions, with the wing providing air mobility, infiltration, and close air support using aircraft like the MC-130 and AC-130. By the 1980s, the base had evolved into the primary training and deployment center for Air Force special operations, hosting advanced tactics development and multinational exercises. The 1st Special Operations Wing played pivotal roles in major conflicts, demonstrating its operational maturity. During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, wing assets, including MH-53 Pave Low helicopters, formed the core of Normandy, conducting the deepest infiltration behind enemy lines to destroy Iraqi radar sites and enable the coalition air campaign. In following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the wing flew over 26,000 combat sorties and accumulated more than 80,000 flight hours by the end of 2006, supporting special operations raids, resupply, and intelligence operations in and beyond. More recently, Hurlburt-based units participated in the Emerald Warrior 25.2 exercise from July 21 to August 11, 2025, hosted by , which tested agile combat employment, joint interoperability, and tactics in contested environments across and . Post-2020 developments have further enhanced Hurlburt's infrastructure through unit activations and facility expansions. In August 2020, the Florida Air National Guard's 249th was activated at Hurlburt Field as the first Guard unit to operate the CV-22 Osprey, integrating reserve forces into AFSOC's missions for insertions. In July 2025, activated the 31st Air Task Force at the base, a new organizational structure to streamline mission generation and force deployment for rapid global response. Supporting these advancements, the 2025 military construction budget allocated funds for a 52,250-square-foot SOF parking apron for AC-130J aircraft and related facilities to bolster MC-130J and AC-130J operations, addressing growing demands for maintenance and apron space at Hurlburt Field.

Facilities and Infrastructure

Airfield and Runways

Hurlburt Field features a primary runway designated 18/, measuring 9,600 feet in length by 150 feet in width, constructed of to support operations. This is equipped with markings and high-intensity edge , enabling safe takeoffs and landings in various weather conditions. Adjacent to the runway, the airfield includes a dedicated helipad designated H1, with dimensions of 1,608 feet by 90 feet, also surfaced in to accommodate rotary-wing . This facility supports maneuvers and parking, ensuring efficient integration with fixed-wing activities on the base. The airfield infrastructure is designed to handle special operations , including the AC-130 , MC-130 combat support variants, and CV-22 , which are integral to Air Force Special Operations Command missions. In 2015, the completion of the U.S. 98/Cody Avenue flyover intersection enhanced access to the airfield by reducing ground and improving response times for personnel and entering the .

Support Facilities

Hurlburt Field features specialized and maintenance facilities tailored to support the aircraft integral to (AFSOC) missions, including the AC-130 and CV-22 . The Special Operations Forces Aircraft Maintenance Unit and Weapons , completed in November 2024 by Hensel Phelps, provides dedicated space for AC-130J maintenance, equipped with 7-ton and 3-ton bridge cranes for handling heavy loads and materials efficiently. Similarly, the Independence serves as a key site for CV-22 upkeep, where the 801st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron conducts routine and specialized repairs to ensure operational readiness. These facilities integrate with airfield operations to facilitate seamless aircraft turnaround, supporting the base's role in . Simulation centers at Hurlburt Field enhance training for personnel through advanced systems, focusing on and mission-specific scenarios. The Hangar program, implemented by AFSOC, utilizes for maintenance training on platforms like the AC-130J, MC-130J, and CV-22, allowing Airmen to practice procedures in immersive environments that reduce costs and improve proficiency. Additionally, virtual simulators enable AC-130U crews to conduct networked exercises with other units, simulating complex tactical engagements. A cutting-edge simulation dome supports (JTAC) training, immersing trainees in realistic battlefield conditions to refine skills. These centers are essential for maintaining high readiness levels without relying solely on live flights. The U.S. School (USAFSOS), located at Hurlburt Field, delivers specialized to and personnel recovery forces, emphasizing and advanced tactics. Established as a directorate under AFSOC, the school offers courses in cultural awareness, language skills, and operational planning to prepare Airmen for and multinational missions. It addresses gaps by providing resident and distance learning options, with a focus on integrating special tactics into broader operations. Recent adaptations include virtual delivery during disruptions like , ensuring continuous professional development for over 1,000 students annually. Recent infrastructure enhancements underscore Hurlburt Field's commitment to modern support. In August 2022, Conti Federal Services secured a $49.7 million from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Mobile District to demolish outdated structures and construct over 103,700 square feet of new facilities for the Forces Special Tactics Operations Facility, adhering to Department of Defense standards. Complementing this, a 2025 USACE project for the includes a multistory training tower for rappelling and breaching exercises, alongside a large for tactical vehicles and dedicated watercraft parking areas to bolster ground and maritime training capabilities. These developments ensure the base's facilities align with evolving AFSOC requirements.

Housing and Amenities

Hurlburt Field provides privatized housing managed by Mayroad, offering modern three- and four-bedroom homes designed for active-duty personnel and their families. These residences feature spacious layouts, community maintenance, and 24-hour emergency support, with options located on base to ensure convenient access to installation resources. In recent years, significant enhancements have included the construction of 400 new homes, completed as part of a project that demolished outdated structures to accommodate population growth following expansions in units after 2020. The base's primary dining facility, The Reef, serves as a central hub for enlisted personnel and offers a unique buffet-style service, recognized for its excellence in food operations. It has received multiple accolades, including the Hennessy Award in 2011 for the best food service program in the , highlighting its commitment to quality meals amid a total beneficiary population exceeding 25,500, which includes approximately 7,940 active-duty members and 12,775 family members. A secondary facility, The Riptide, supports additional dining needs on the east side of the base. Quality-of-life amenities at Hurlburt Field emphasize physical fitness, healthcare, and family resilience for its diverse community of active-duty members, reservists, civilians, contractors, and dependents. Fitness centers, such as the Sabre and Soundside facilities, provide indoor basketball and volleyball courts, free weights, cardio equipment, group fitness classes, and locker rooms to support the wellness of over 7,940 active-duty personnel. The 1st Special Operations Medical Group operates primary care clinics, including active-duty, family health, and flight medicine services, along with a modernized facility certified LEED Silver in 2020 for sustainable healthcare delivery. Family support programs, coordinated through the Airman and Family Readiness Center and the Family Advocacy Program, offer resources for child and partner maltreatment prevention, financial counseling, and exceptional family member assistance, serving the base's 12,775 family members. Recent upgrades, including new fitness equipment installed in 2025, further enhance these services in response to ongoing population increases.

Airpark and Memorials

Aircraft Displays

The Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park, established in 1970 to preserve the history of special and the Air Commando legacy, features a collection of static displays that highlight the evolution of used in , close air support, and infiltration missions. The first aircraft dedicated to the air park was the A-26A Counter Invader on July 4, 1970, marking the beginning of efforts to commemorate the contributions of units like the . Among the Vietnam-era exhibits are the AC-47D Spooky gunship (tail number 43-15510), which provided flare illumination and minigun fire for base defense during the war, dedicated in 1973, and the AC-130A (56-0509), an early side-firing gunship that supported ground troops from through operations in before its retirement in 1995. These displays underscore the shift from propeller-driven platforms to more advanced gunships in tactics. The UC-123K Provider (55-4533), used in for defoliation missions, further illustrates the diverse roles in , having been dedicated in 1981. Post-Vietnam and Gulf War-era aircraft, such as the AC-130H Spectre (69-6575), which served for 43 years in operations including Panama and Iraq, and the MC-130E Combat Talon I (64-0567) involved in the exfiltration of Manuel Noriega during Operation Just Cause, demonstrate advancements in precision strike and special tactics capabilities. A standout is the AC-130U Spooky (87-0128), known as "Big Daddy," the first of its model to arrive at Hurlburt Field in 1997 and later deployed in the Balkans and Kosovo for close air support; it was retired in 2019 and added to the air park in 2021. These exhibits trace the progression to modern sensor-equipped platforms enhancing night operations and troop support. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, public access to the air park was restricted for security reasons, limiting visits for over two decades until its reopening on April 10, 2024, now available 24/7 to the general public at no cost, though certain areas remain closed for maintenance. The park's 20-plus aircraft, including helicopters like the MH-53J Pave Low (68-10928) used in , continue to serve as an educational tribute to heritage. Recent additions as of 2025 include the O-2A Skymaster (September 27) and MH-60G Pave Hawk (October 2).

Museum and Upgrades

In 2025, the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park underwent a series of upgrades to improve public access and preservation efforts, beginning with a temporary closure to visitors on June 23. The northern portion reopened on July 1, 2025, while the southern portion remained closed for ongoing construction projects aimed at enhancing the site's infrastructure and visitor amenities. The upgrades, which commenced in late July 2025, included relocating existing static aircraft displays from in front of the base to the southern portion of the Air Park, as well as installing additional benches throughout the area to better accommodate visitors. These enhancements were designed to elevate the overall visitor experience while serving as a public tribute to history and inspiring future Air Commandos. As of November 2025, no specific completion date has been announced for the projects. These improvements are preparatory steps ahead of the planned construction of the Air Commando Museum, a dedicated facility to honor the legacy of Air Commandos through immersive exhibits and historical narratives. Led by the Air Commando Heritage Foundation, the museum is slated for development within the existing Air Park boundaries, with groundbreaking projected around 2030. As of September 2025, the foundation is seeking to raise $20 million for the project, which is estimated to attract 550,000 annual visitors. The initiative addresses the need for expanded post-2020 coverage of Air Commando contributions, building on the site's current public accessibility established in 2024. The Air Park's upgrades and future museum will integrate seamlessly with existing historical markers and war memorials on base, such as the Memorial and tributes to specific Air Commando units, creating a cohesive for on and . These , including plaques and monuments detailing figures like Lt. Donald Wilson Hurlburt, enhance the site's role as a comprehensive memorial venue.

Based Units

Air Force Special Operations Command Units

The (1st SOW), headquartered at Hurlburt Field, , serves as the primary tenant unit under (AFSOC), executing specialized airpower missions including , infiltration/exfiltration, intelligence, surveillance, and (ISR), and agile combat support to enable global . The wing consists of two groups, special staff offices, and 22 squadrons, employing more than 7,900 military personnel and 1,700 civilians to support AFSOC's core competencies in and contingency operations. Among its seven operations squadrons, the operates the AC-130J Ghostrider, a heavily armed equipped with a 30mm and 105mm , precision-guided munitions, and advanced sensors for nighttime , , and precision strikes in denied environments. The 8th and 15th Special Operations Squadrons fly the MC-130J Commando II, a four-engine turboprop aircraft modified for special missions with terrain-following radar, forward-looking infrared, and aerial refueling capabilities to support helicopter operations, enabling low-altitude infiltration, exfiltration, resupply, and casualty evacuation for special forces in austere locations. The wing also assigns the CV-22B Osprey, a tiltrotor aircraft combining vertical takeoff/landing with turboprop cruise speeds up to 240 knots and a range exceeding 1,000 nautical miles, to facilitate long-range special operations insertions, extractions, and resupply without reliance on forward airfields. Complementing these, the 34th Special Operations Squadron utilizes the U-28A Draco, a modified Pilatus PC-12 light utility aircraft with electro-optical/infrared sensors and communications relays for persistent ISR, providing real-time situational awareness and targeting data to joint special operations task forces. Special tactics units at Hurlburt Field fall under the 720th Special Tactics Group, which directly reports to AFSOC following the 2025 inactivation of the 24th Special Operations Wing, organizing combat controllers, pararescuemen, special reconnaissance operators, and tactical air control party specialists for rapid global deployment. The 21st, 22nd, and 23rd Special Tactics Squadrons provide core capabilities in airfield seizure, precision airstrike coordination, personnel recovery, and medical evacuation, with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron based at Hurlburt Field to integrate directly with 1st SOW air assets for joint terminal attack control and combat search and rescue in high-threat areas. These squadrons employ advanced equipment like laser designators and survival radios to synchronize air and ground operations, ensuring airpower dominance in contested battlespaces. Detachments from the 352nd Expeditionary Special Operations Wing, based at , , periodically deploy to Hurlburt Field for joint and , leveraging the base's facilities to enhance AFSOC's transatlantic power projection with MC-130J and CV-22B assets tailored for European theater . Non-standard aviation squadrons under the , also hosted at Hurlburt Field, focus on formal and advisory for platforms, including the U-28A and other modified utility types like the C-145A and C-146A, to build partner nation capacities in aviation and scenarios. These efforts emphasize low-cost, adaptable aircraft for , transport, and in austere environments, supporting AFSOC's broader to equip allies with sustainable capabilities.

Other Commands and Reserve Units

In addition to the primary Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) units, Hurlburt Field hosts several reserve, National Guard, and detachment elements from other major commands that support special operations missions. The Air Force Reserve Command's 919th Special Operations Wing (919 SOW), based at nearby Duke Field, serves as an associate unit to the 1st Special Operations Wing (1 SOW) at Hurlburt Field, providing reserve personnel for training and operations in non-standard aviation, foreign internal defense, and combat aviation advisory roles. The wing, the only special operations unit in the Air Force Reserve, operates the C-146A Wolfhound for personnel recovery and transport missions, as well as the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial system for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support, with some squadrons conducting missions directly from Hurlburt Field. The Air National Guard's 249th Special Operations Squadron (249 SOS), assigned to the Florida Air National Guard's , was activated on August 28, 2020, as the first unit to operate the CV-22B aircraft at Hurlburt Field. This focuses on infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply missions, integrating with active-duty 1 SOW elements to enhance surge capacity for global deployments. Air Combat Command maintains a presence through the 505th Command and Control Wing, particularly its 505th Combat Training Squadron located at Hurlburt Field, which delivers operational-level training scenarios for multi-domain exercises, including the BLUE FLAG program to prepare air component commanders. This detachment supports testing and tactics development for joint and coalition forces, replicating real-world operational environments to improve AFSOC's integration with broader capabilities. The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC), under , operates Detachment 3 at Hurlburt Field to provide installation management and logistics support tailored to AFSOC priorities, synchronizing resources for mission sustainment and infrastructure readiness. A recent addition is the 31st , activated by AFSOC on July 15, 2025, at Hurlburt Field to serve as an experimental, taskable unit delivering combat airpower to joint forces in contested environments. Commanded by Col. Brad M. Dvorak, it focuses on rapid response and integration with allied operations, marking the second such in AFSOC's structure to address evolving global threats.

Community and Impact

Demographics

Hurlburt Field, designated as a (CDP), had a recorded of 2,176 according to the . The broader military community associated with the base includes approximately 7,940 active-duty personnel, 1,787 civilian employees, 12,775 family members, 822 reservists, and 2,180 contractors, totaling around 25,500 individuals as of 2024. Since 2020, the in the Hurlburt Field CDP has grown significantly, increasing by over 30% to an estimated 2,867 residents by recent counts, driven by unit activations, expansions in capabilities, and ongoing construction projects at the installation. Demographically, the 2020 Census data for the CDP reflects a diverse -affiliated , with racial and ethnic composition including 58.9% , 12.0% or , 15.3% or (of any ), 3.6% Asian, 1.2% and Alaska Native or other races, and the remainder identifying as two or more races. The age distribution skews young, with a median age of 23.7 years; approximately 30.8% of residents under 18, 66.1% between 18 and 64, and 3.1% aged 65 and older. composition emphasizes family units typical of bases, with an average size of 3.3 persons and a majority (around 80%) consisting of family . These figures align with broader Okaloosa County trends, where the county's 2020 was 211,668, featuring a median age of 37.3 and similar emphases on family-oriented demographics influenced by presence.

Local and Cultural Impact

Hurlburt Field significantly bolsters the economy of Okaloosa County through direct employment, payroll, and contracts, generating a total economic impact of $1.294 billion in fiscal year 2024. This includes $1.167 billion in payroll from 7,940 active-duty personnel, 822 reservists, 1,787 civilian employees, and 2,180 contractors, supporting over 25,500 total personnel and 12,775 family members in the region. Notable contracts, such as the $49.7 million award to Conti Federal in 2022 for constructing a 103,700-square-foot Forces , exemplify ongoing investments that stimulate local construction and service sectors. The base fosters strong community ties through collaborative events and training initiatives with local agencies. In May 2025, Hurlburt Field hosted Police Week from May 12-16, featuring a 24-hour Vigilance Ruck to honor fallen officers, memorial ceremonies, and activities involving defenders from the . Additionally, a four-day Capability Advancement Training Exercise in May 2025 united military, federal, state, and local bomb technicians to enhance explosive ordnance disposal skills and interagency coordination. Environmental stewardship at Hurlburt Field plays a vital role in preserving local ecosystems, with over half of its 6,634 acres designated as protected wetlands that serve as habitat for 16 rare, threatened, and endangered species, including the and reticulated flatwoods salamander. The installation manages 3,328 acres of jurisdictional wetlands—52% of its total area—through the Wetlands Protection Program, which includes setting aside 3,200 acres of wetlands and uplands for preservation under U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Department of permits. Mitigation efforts encompass restoring 125 acres of forested sites to and wiregrass habitats, conducting prescribed burns on approximately 1,000 acres of pine flatwoods to support , and controlling like feral hogs and apple snails to minimize ecological disruptions. These practices, aligned with the Endangered Species Act and Sikes Act, earned the base the 2007 General Thomas D. White Natural Resource Conservation Award for small installations. Historical markers and memorials at Hurlburt Field enrich the cultural heritage of Okaloosa County by commemorating the legacy of and sacrifices in conflicts from onward. The Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park features over 58 markers, including the Memorial, tributes to the 1st Air Commando Group B-25 bomber, and honors for operations like , preserving stories of bravery and innovation central to the region's military identity. These installations, accessible to the public after security checks, educate visitors on the base's evolution as a hub for units like the , fostering a shared sense of history and resilience in the local community.

In Popular Culture

Hurlburt Field served as a filming location for the 2011 film Transformers: Dark of the Moon, where scenes featuring the CV-22 Osprey and AC-130U Spooky were shot, and several airmen appeared as extras portraying NEST team members. Additionally, in 2007, an episode of the TV series Mail Call was filmed at the base, with host R. Lee Ermey touring facilities and participating in training activities.

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