Raised on a farm in the Midwest, Don Bacon learned the value of hard work and the importance of our God-given freedoms. Don worked his way through college and graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Political Science Degree in 1984. He also married his college sweetheart, Angie, in 1984. He later earned Master’s Degrees from University of Phoenix and National War College.
Wanting to serve his country, Don joined the Air Force in 1985 and served for 29.5 years, retiring as a Brigadier General. He served in the intelligence, electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and public affairs career fields and had 16 assignments all over the world. He commanded twice at the wing level, to include at Ramstein Air Base in Germany and Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. He also commanded one group, one squadron, and one expeditionary squadron. He deployed four times during his career to the Middle East to include commanding an electronic warfare squadron during the invasion of Iraq and a year-long tour to Baghdad during the surge in 2007-2008.
He won multiple awards during his time in the Air Force including the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, two Legion of Merits, and two Bronze Stars. He was selected as Europe’s top Air Force Wing Commander (along with Angie as commander’s spouse) in 2009. He was a Distinguished Graduate in his Air and Command Staff College, Navigator School, and Intelligence School.
Don has also worked for Congressman Jeff Fortenberry as his Military Advisor focusing on Offutt Air Force Base and Nebraska National Guard, and was an Assistant Professor at Bellevue University teaching Undergraduate Leadership courses and American Vision and Values (The Kirkpatrick Signature Series).
General Bacon may have retired the uniform, but he wasn’t ready to stop serving his country. He ran for Congress in Nebraska’s Second Congressional District in 2016 as a strong defender of the Constitution, conservative values, and national security. Don defeated the Democrat incumbent, becoming the only Republican challenger in America to do so in the 2016 elections. In 2018, once again with your help, Don overcame the “blue wave” and was re-elected to serve a second term in Congress. Finally, after running for his third term in 2020, Don was able to secure his largest margin of victory yet.
Don resides in Papillion with Angie, his wife of over 37 years. They have four children and six grandchildren.
Don Bacon was a member of the U.S. Air Force. Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or the Department of Defense.