Hobson's father served in the United States Army Air Corps training pilots during World War II.
While serving in the Oklahoma National Guard, Hobson was deployed abroad in 1989, during the United States invasion of Panama resulting in the ouster of General Manuel Noriega.
After thirty years of service in both active duty and reserve capacity, Hobson retired in 1999 at the rank of colonel (United States).
Before his retirement, Col. Hobson served at Tinker Air Force Base and in the administration of National Guard Commander Major General Rita Aragon.
[citation needed] Hobson's full political career stretched for thirty years having first served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1978 to 1990.
[citation needed] During his political career, Cal was instrumental in securing funding for several key facilities associated with the University of Oklahoma, notably the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, the OU National Weather Center, the Sarkeys Energy Center, and a significant expansion of the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.