Col Eric C. McKissick is the Vice Wing Commander at the 193d Special Operations Wing, Middletown, Pennsylvania. He assists in overseeing a Wing of 2000 Airmen at three geographic locations with a myriad of missions.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force as an Imagery and Intelligence Analyst. Following Basic Training and Technical School, he was assigned to the 497th Reconnaissance Technical Group, Germany. In this role, he conducted and supported numerous operations in the USEUCOM geographic area of responsibility. He left active duty and joined the Air National Guard, and was mobilized in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. He then enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Political Science. He was then commissioned as an Intelligence Officer with the 171st Air Refueling Wing. He transferred to the intelligence section of the 193d Special Operations Wing. He was also assigned as the Wing Executive Officer, and the Deputy Commander, and Commander Maintenance Group before his current assignment. He has deployed in support of numerous real-world operations throughout his career.
EDUCATION
1992 Baccalaureate Degree, Political Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
2001 Squadron Officer School, In-Residence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence Course
2013 Air War College, Correspondence Course
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1993 – May 1995, Intelligence Officer, 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2. May 1995 – September 2003, Intelligence Officer, 193d Special Operations Wing, Middletown, Pennsylvania
(September 2003- June 2004, Senior Intelligence Officer, 193 Air Operations Group, State College Pennsylvania)
3. June 2004 – September 2006, Wing Executive Officer, 193d Special Operations Wing, Middletown, Pennsylvania
4. September 2006 – May 2009, Commander, 193d Maintenance Operations Flight, Middletown, Pennsylvania
5. May 2009 – August 2014, Commander, 193d Maintenance Squadron, Middletown, Pennsylvania
6. August 2014 – June 2018, Deputy Commander, 193d Maintenance Group, Middletown, Pennsylvania
7. June 2018 – January 2021, Group Commander, 193d Maintenance Group, Middletown, Pennsylvania
(March 2019 – October 2019, Deputy Group Commander, Maintenance, 553 Expeditionary Air Wing, Bagram AB Afghanistan)
8. January 2021 – Present, Vice Wing Commander, 193d Special Operations Wing, Middletown, Pennsylvania
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal 2 oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal 1 oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant November 18, 1993
First Lieutenant January 07, 1996
Captain January 15, 1998
Major February 08, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel October 01, 2009
Colonel July 31, 2019
(CURRENT AS OF JULY 2022)