COLONEL ERIC M. PETERSON Published March 4, 2025 Official Photo of Colonel Eric M. Peterson Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Colonel Eric Peterson is currently the Dean of Students of Air War College. He is a command pilot with over 5,000 hours in airlift and training aircraft. Colonel Peterson earned his commission as a Distinguished Graduate from the United States Air Force Academy in 2002. After completion of pilot training, Colonel Peterson was assigned to the 10th Airlift Squadron at McChord Air Force Base, WA where he flew in support of worldwide C-17 airlift missions, upgraded to Instructor Aircraft Commander, while serving a multitude of other duties. Leaving McChord, Colonel Peterson attended Pilot Instructor training and was assigned to Columbus Air Force Base, MS where he served as a T-1 Instructor Pilot, Operations Group Executive Officer, and Flight Commander. Following this assignment, Colonel Peterson requalified in the C-17 and was assigned to Joint Base Charleston, SC where he upgraded to Evaluator Aircraft Commander and served as a Deployed Detachment Commander, 14th Airlift Squadron Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, and Operations Group Director of Staff. Colonel Peterson then attended the Army Command and General Staff College and the School of Advanced Military Studies in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was then reassigned as an Air Power Strategist at Headquarters Air Force, Washington DC, developing the Air Force’s long-term strategy and capabilities plan. Additionally, he was selected as lead action officer for the Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s (CSAF) Focus Area 2. In this role, Colonel Peterson led a diverse team from across the Air Force to meet the CSAF’s vision of Strengthening Joint Leaders and Teams. After leaving the Pentagon, Colonel Peterson requalified as a Pilot Instructor Trainer in the T-1A and served as Director of Operations before being selected as commander, 99th Flying Training Squadron, San Antonio, TX. In this position, he led the Air Force’s only T-1A Pilot Instructor Training squadron and developed and executed the first classes of the Accelerated Path to Wings (XPW) program. Afterward, Colonel Peterson attended Air War College before serving as a course director and leadership instructor at the Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), Maxwell AFB, AL. As an ACSC course director, Colonel Peterson developed and executed the school’s inaugural Leadership in Command course, a command preparation course for over 400 students. After serving at ACSC, Colonel Peterson served as an instructor at Air War College and the Air University Mobility Chair before being selected for his current position. EDUCATION 2002 Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO (Distinguished Graduate) 2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL(Distinguished Graduate), 2009 Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA (Summa Cum Laude) 2012 Air Command and Staff College (in correspondence) 2015 Army Command and General Staff College, Leavenworth, KS (Top 10% graduate) 2016 Master of Military Operational Arts and Science, School of Advanced Military Studies, Leavenworth, KS 2022 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL (Highest Academic Distinction) ASSIGNMENTS 1. Nov 2002 - Jun 2003, Student Pilot, 479th Operations Support Squadron, Moody AFB, GA 2. Jun 2003 – Dec 2003, Student Pilot, 48th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, MS 3. May 2004 – Aug 2008, C-17A Instructor Aircraft Commander, Squadron Operations Controller, Mobility Officer, Awards and Decorations Officer, 10th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, WA 4. Dec 2008 – Oct 2011, T-1 Instructor Pilot, Operations Group Executive Officer, Flight Commander, Assistant Flight Commander, 48th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus Air Force Base, MS 5. Jan 2012 – Feb 2013, C-17A Evaluator Aircraft Commander, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, Assistant Director of Operations, 14th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, SC 6. Feb 2013 – June 2014, C-17A Evaluator Aircraft Commander, Director of Staff, 437th Operations Group, Joint Base Charleston, SC 7. June 2014 – May 2015, Student, Army Command and General Staff College, Leavenworth, KS 8. June 2015 – May 2016, Student, School of Advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth, KS 9. June 2016 – June 2018, Air Power Strategist, Headquarters US Air Force, Pentagon, VA 10. Nov 2018 – April 2019, Director of Operations, 99th Flying Training Squadron, JBSA Randolph, TX 11. April 2019 – May 2021, Commander, 99th Flying Training Squadron, JBSA Randolph, TX 12. June 2021 – June 2022, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL 13. June 22 – June 2023, Course Director, Leadership in Command, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL 14. June 2023 – May 2024, Instructor and Mobility Air Forces Chair, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL 15. May 2024 – Present, Dean of Students, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL FLIGHT INFORMATION Rating: Command Pilot Flight hours: Over 5,000 Combat Hours: Over 1,200 Aircraft flown: T-6A, T-1A, T-38C, C-17A MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters Aerial Achievement Medal Air Force Commendation Medal Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf cluster Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters Combat Readiness Medal National Defense Service Medal Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 service star Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with 4 oak leaf clusters Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with 5 oak leaf clusters Air Force Training Ribbon EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant May 29, 2002 First Lieutenant May 29, 2004 Captain May 29, 2006 Major March 1, 2012 Lieutenant Colonel Feb 1, 2017 Colonel Sep 1, 2023 (Current as of June 2024)