Colonel Erica Austin is the mobilization assistant to the Director of Operations and International Law, the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, Department of the Air Force, the Pentagon. In this capacity, Col Austin advises on the provision of legal services to the Air Force and Space Force on air and international law, space law, cyberspace and information law, environmental law and litigation, and aviation and admiralty tort matters.
Colonel Austin is a distinguished graduate of the University of Illinois Reserve Officers Training Corps program. Upon receiving her commission, she pursued her law degree through the Educational Delay Program.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Arts,English Literature, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Ill. 1997 Juris Doctor, The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Ill.
1999 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence 2002 Squadron Officer School, in residence
2005 Air Command and Staff College, by correpsondence 2012 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1998 - June 1999, Chief, Claims & Military Justice, Eielson AFB, Alaska
2. June 1999 - June 2001, Area Defense Counsel, Eielson AFB, Alaska
3. June 2001 - May 2004, Assistant Professor of Law, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
4. May 2004 - May 2006, Legal Advisor, 34th Training Wing, Victim Liaison, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
5. May 2006 - August 2007, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
6. August 2007 - September 2010, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, 944th Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
7. September 2010 - July 2012, Staff Judge Advocate, 944th Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
8. July 2012 - July 2015, Judge Advocate, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, Neb.
9. July 2015 - May 2017, IMA to the U.S. Air Force Academy Staff Judge Advocate, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
10. May 2017 - June 2018, IMA to the 14th Air Force Staff Judge Advocate, Vandenburg AFB, Calif.
11. June 2018 – April 2019, IMA to the HQ AFSOC Staff Judge Advocate, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
12. April 2019 – August 2022, IMA to the HQ ACC Staff Judge Advocate, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
13. August 2022 – present, MA to Director, Operations and International Law, Office of The Judge Advocate General, the Pentagon, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
July 2012 - July 2015, Judge Advocate, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, Neb.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal Joint Meritorious Unit Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 16,1994 First Lieutenant Oct. 9, 1997
Captain April 9, 1998
Major May 1, 2004
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 13, 2010
Colonel April 1, 2015
(Current as of April 2023)