Midland University is excited to announce Col. Ted Hanger as its keynote speaker for the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony Saturday, May 11, at 10 a.m. at the Wikert Event Center.

Hanger will address more than 250 undergraduate students during the ceremony, which will also feature remarks from President Dr. Aly Williams, award presentations, and music.

Col. Hanger is from Sutton, Nebraska, and graduated from Hastings College in 1995. Col. Hanger has served with distinction in the United States Army and the Army National Guard for nearly 30 years. He has most recently served as the Chief of the Strategic Partnerships Division within the Strategy, Plans, and Policy Directorate at the United States Space Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He received his commission as an infantry officer U.S. Army Officer Candidate School in 1999. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Armor Officer Advanced Course, Human Resources Management Qualification Course, Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College. Col. Hanger holds master’s degrees in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College and in Human Resources Management from Webster University. 

His military path shouldn’t have come as a big surprise, as the Hanger name dates back to the Revolutionary War. “Ever since the Revolutionary War, there have been direct descendants of the Hanger family in every war or conflict the United States has ever fought in,” Hanger said. 

In his message, Hanger wants to impart to students that the path might not always be easy, or the one you want to take, but it’s important to embrace every challenge. “College wasn’t easy for me, and I had to work hard to graduate, but I graduated,” he said. “I want to talk about being resilient and to keep competing. You’re not always going to have your best day, but you need to put your best foot forward.”

Hanger has a strong connection with Midland as his son, Chase, is a 2024 graduate and was a member of the Warrior football team. It was during Chase’s college selection process that Hanger began to understand what Midland was all about. 

“Coach (Jeff) Jamrog came to our house to visit with Chase, and that was meaningful,” he said. “That individual attention and one-on-one approach proved to me that relationships matter at Midland. It really resonated with us.”

He is excited for the opportunity to share his story with graduates and help ready them for whatever lies ahead. “It was 30 years ago I was walking across that stage,” he said. “I want to let them know there are opportunities out there and get them excited for the transition they are about to make.”

He and his wife, Billee, have three children: Chase, Hannah, and Koen.