Colonel Erik L. Aufderheide is the Commander, 452D Air Mobility Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, March Air Reserve Base, Calif. As commander of the Air Force Reserve’s largest wing, with more than 4,000 personnel, 9 C-17As and 14 KC-135Rs, he directs the support of worldwide airlift and air refueling operations. Colonel Aufderheide is also responsible for the daily operations of March ARB which supports active duty, National Guard and Reserve mission partners from the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines as well as Department of Homeland Security personnel with the Air and Marine Operations Center.
Col. Aufderheide began his operational career with Air Combat Command (ACC) and the 66th Rescue Squadron at Nellis AFB, NV. He deployed numerous times to Iraq in support of Operations NORTHERN WATCH, SOUTHERN WATCH, and Operation NEW DAWN. Col. Aufderheide later joined the 172nd Fighter Squadron, Michigan Air National Guard at Battle Creek until the unit closed in 2005. He then entered the Air Force Reserve at Grissom ARB Indiana where he served as a Flight, Squadron, and Deputy Operations Group Commander. While at Grissom ARB, Col. Aufderheide managed the daily operations and alert forces in support of STRATCOM OPLAN 8010 and DoD SPECAT missions (and) flew combat missions against the Islamic State (ISIL) in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM over Afghanistan and Operation INHERENT RESOLVE over Iraq, and Syria. In June of 2017, Col. Aufderheide became the Vice Commander, 914th Air Refueling Wing, as well as the acting 914 ARW Operations Group Commander, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, New York. In Sept 2019, Col. Aufderheide was assigned as the Reserve Advisor to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations (AF/A3) Headquarters U.S. Air Force Pentagon. At the Pentagon, Col. Aufderheide advised/briefed the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations on all Air Force Reserve and Joint/Total Force matters of policy and oversight relating to air, space, cyber, and weather operations. Col. Aufderheide is an instructor/evaluator pilot and a civilian trial attorney specializing in Business and Real Property litigation.
EDUCATION:
1994 Bachelor of Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN (ROTC/DG) 1999 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2001 Masters of Science, Embry Riddle Aero University, Daytona Beach, FL (DG/4.0 GPA)
2008 Doctor of Jurisprudence, Indiana University School of Law (Trial Team Captain) 2010 Air Command and Staff College
2015 Air War College
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. June 1994-August 1995, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, OK.
2. September 1995-May 1996, MH60 Pilot 512th FTU Spl Ops Squadron Kirtland AFB, NM.
3. May 1996-September 1998, 66th Rescue Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV.
4. September 1999-June 2003, AETC Instructor.
5. June 2003-June 2005, 172nd Fighter Sqdn, pilot Air National Guard, Battle Creek MI.
6. August 2005-June 2013, 72nd ARS, Flight Commander, 434th Ops Grp, Grissom ARB IN.
7. June 2013-July 2016, 72nd ARS, Squadron Commander, 434th Ops Grp, Grissom ARB IN.
8. July 2016-June 2017, Deputy Ops Grp Commander, 434th Ops Grp, Grissom ARB IN.
9. June 2017-Sept 2019, CV 914th ARW and (acting) OG/CC Niagara Falls ARB.
10. Sep 2019-Jun 2021, Reserve Advisor Deputy Chief of Staff, Ops (HAF/A3) Pentagon.
11. June 2021-September 2022, Commander 940th Air Refueling Wing, Beale AFB CA.
12. September 2022-Present, Commander 452D Air Mobility Wing, March ARB CA.
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: 3000+ Military and 3,500+ total flying hours.
DAFSC history: 92T0, 11H3E, 81T0, 11F3B, 11M3F, C11M3F, P10C0W, 16G4, 10COW, 90GO
Aircraft Flown: T-41, T-37, T-38, UH-1, HH/MH-60G, T-38C, KC-135R, and C-17A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster AF Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf clusters National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf clusters Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border with two oak leaf clusters AF Longevity Service with five oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two 'M' Devices and one oak leaf cluster Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant – June 01, 1994
First Lieutenant – June 01, 1996
Captain – June 01, 1998
Major – June 02, 2004
Lieutenant Colonel - October 01, 2011
Colonel – June 01, 2017
(Current as of Sept 2022)