When Hansen graduated from high school in 1953, he attended Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University), where he graduated with a BS in 1957 and received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army Ordnance Corps. Lt. Hansen entered the U.S. Army in July 1957, serving at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland and Tooele Army Ordnance Depot in Utah, and received an honorable discharge as a 1st Lieutenant in June 1959.

When Hansen graduated from high school in 1953, he attended Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University), where he graduated with a BS in 1957 and received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army Ordnance Corps. Lt. Hansen entered the U.S. Army in July 1957, serving at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland and Tooele Army Ordnance Depot in Utah, and received an honorable discharge as a 1st Lieutenant in June 1959.