Hal Bidlack

He was the second Bidlack to run for Congress; his ancestor Benjamin Alden Bidlack, served in the 27th and 28th Congresses in the 1840s.

Bidlack described himself as a very conservative Blue Dog Democrat who told Rocky Mountain News that he had voted for a number of Republicans, although never a presidential candidate.

Harold Wilford Bidlack (born 1958) is a retired United States Air Force officer and national security aide.

Bidlack was born in Michigan in 1958.

He attended the University of Michigan, where he was a member of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC).

He received his Bachelor of Arts in political science (with a minor in economics) in 1980, his Master of Arts in economics in 1987, and his Ph.D. in political science, with a focus on American national government and environmental security issues in 1996.

Bidlack graduated in 1980 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.

Bidlack was posted with the LGM-30 Minuteman program at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, serving first in operations and then as a nuclear-missile and weapons-systems commander and instructor.

In 1988, he was assigned to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Bidlack taught at the Academy for 15 years in the Political Science Department, with posts of Instructor, Associate Professor, Course Director, and Division Chief.

His subject areas included the U.S. government and national security; international relations; national security policy; the U.S. judicial system; the Supreme Court; the presidency; the U.S. Congress; environmental politics; and environmental security.

Bidlack has particular expertise in public policy, the presidency, the Constitution, and the Founding Fathers.

Since 1996, Bidlack has appeared before radio and live audiences portraying Alexander Hamilton.

In 1997 and 1999, Bidlack served rotations in the Clinton administration.

As Director of Global Environmental Policy on the staff of the National Security Council, Bidlack's primary duties were to assist the senior Director in drafting speeches and writing background papers for President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore.

He also conducted research for the National Security Advisor.

He ultimately patrolled for over 2000 hours during his final two years of active duty, and was awarded an Air Force Achievement Medal for his SF duty, and was commended in particular for his work as a first responder to major traffic accidents on I-25.

Bidlack was also certified by the Colorado State Patrol for DUI detection techniques.

From 2001-2003 Bidlack served as Deputy Director of the Air Force Institute for National Security Studies.

Bidlack also served as an augmentee to the Air Force Security Forces military police officer at the Academy, volunteering on a temporary basis when the Security Forces needed additional personnel to guard the gates.

After extensive training, Bidlack was awarded the Security Forces badge, and certified for solo patrol.

In 2001, Bidlack served in the Bush administration in the Department of State as Deputy Director of Security Programs and Military Advisor.

His service there included work with classified nuclear weapons security in the post-Soviet states.

Bidlack was in the Pentagon on the morning of the September 11 attacks and participated in rescue and recovery efforts.

He held Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance during his posts in the Clinton and Bush administrations.

He retired in 2006 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

During his service in the military Bidlack served in the Clinton administration as Director of Global Environmental Affairs for the National Security Council.

He is also noted for his educational presentations in-character as Alexander Hamilton and advocacy of rational skepticism.

He retired in September 2006 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Following his retirement from the Air Force, the Academy asked Bidlack to return as a civilian professor for the 2007-08 academic year and then again for the 2009-2010 academic year.

He ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives in Colorado's 5th congressional district as the Democratic nominee in the 2008 election.

Bidlack ran for the United States House of Representatives in Colorado's 5th congressional district as a Democrat in the 2008 elections.

In 2009, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter named Bidlack as a commissioner to the 4th Judicial District Judicial Performance Commission.

From 2010 to 2014, Bidlack served as a staffer for US Senator Michael Bennet, focusing primarily on veteran and military issues and casework, and oversaw Bennet's military academy nominations.

Bidlack served over 25 years in the Air Force, including 15 years at the United States Air Force Academy.

In 2010, Bidlack acted as Chair for the Colorado Democratic Party's State Platform Committee.

In March 2010, Bidlack was elected Chair of the El Paso County Democratic Party.

The 5th district is largely considered a very "red" (Republican-leaning) district, with a large population of Evangelical Christians centered around Colorado Springs and a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+16.

Despite the tough Republican primary faced by Bidlack's Republican opponent Doug Lamborn, Bidlack was defeated by Lamborn 60.1 percent to 36.9 percent.

Results (459 precincts)