Lieutenant Commander Kristofer Hawbaker is a native of Arlington, Texas. He graduated and earned his commission from the United States Naval Academy with a B.S. in Systems Engineering and a minor in Mandarin Chinese. Serving his country with distinction as a Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Pilot and Weapons and Tactics Instructor, LCDR Hawbaker has received multiple community awards and military decorations. His combat service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the Middle East and Africa inspired an intense affection for the American Flag. To him, the American Flag is a revered symbol and an internationally renowned sign of strength and hope. Despite Americans' ideological differences, LCDR Hawbaker believes it is every family's sacred duty to teach their children how to respect and protect the American Flag.