Col. Eric R. Jenkins is the Commander of the 916th Air Refueling Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. A key air refueling unit in Air Force Reserve Command, the 916th ARW flies the KC-135R Stratotanker in support of the Air Force's worldwide contingency operations involving aerial refueling, airlift of cargo and passengers, and aeromedical evacuations.

Col. Jenkins earned a Bachelor of Science degree in General Studies and subsequent commission into the Air Force from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1988. In 1990, Col. Jenkins completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB, Oklahoma and received a follow-on assignment to McChord AFB, Washington. He flew the C-141B Starlifter for five years and received a second assignment to the U.S. Air Force Academy as an Instructor and Executive Officer for the Department of Athletics.

In 1998, Col. Jenkins separated from active duty and became an Academy Liaison Officer. In 2003, while assigned to the 756th Airlift Squadron and flying C-141B/Cs, he was instrumental in the unit’s transition to the 756th Air Refueling Squadron, operating the KC-135R. Col. Jenkins is a veteran of numerous operations in support of national objectives. He was called to active duty in 2003 to serve in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Col. Jenkins has deployed three times in support of contingency operations and has served as the Deployed Commander in 2012 for the 90th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Prior to his current position, the colonel was the Vice Commander of the 507th Air Refueling Wing, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma.

EDUCATION
1984 USAF Academy Preparatory School, USAF Academy, Colo.
1988 Bachelor of Science, General Studies, USAF Academy, Colo.
1995 Master of Aeronautical Science, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Fla.
1995 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2006 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1988 – April 1989, Candidate Counselor/Assistant Track Coach, Department of Athletics, U.S. Air Force
Academy, Colo.
2. April 1989 – September 1990, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
3. September 1990 – August 1995, Pilot, C-141B (Chief Tactics Scheduler) McChord AFB, Wash.
4. August 1995 – June 1998, Executive Officer/Chief Instructor Scheduler, Department of Athletics, U.S. Air Force
Academy, Colo.
5. June 1998 – April 1999, Inactive Reserve
6. April 1999 – December 1999, Academy Liaison Officer, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
7. December 1999 – April 2004, C-141 Pilot/Aircraft Commander/Instructor Pilot, 756th Airlift Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md.
8. April 2004 – March 2007, KC-135 Pilot/Aircraft Commander and Flight Commander, 756th Air Refueling Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md.
9. March 2007 – June 2008, Assistant Operations Officer and Director of Operations, 756th ARS, Andrews AFB, Md.
10. June 2008 – August 2013, Deputy Commander/Flight Commander, 459th Operations Support Flight, Andrews AFB, Md.
11. April 2013 – February 2014, Deputy Group Commander, 459th Operations Group, Andrews AFB, Md.
12. February 2014 – July 2015, Inspector General, 913th Airlift Group, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
13. July 2015 – July 2016, Vice Commander, 507th Air Refueling Wing, Tinker AFB, Okla.
14. July 2016 – present, Commander, 916th ARW, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot, Instructor and Parachutist
Flight Hours: More than 4,000 and 5,000 civilian
Military aircraft flown: T-41, T-37, T-38, C-141B/C, KC-135R, UV-18
Civilian aircraft flown: B-727, B-737, B-757, B-767

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award with one device
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two devices
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one device
Combat Readiness Medal with two devices
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one device
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with one device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Air Force Longevity Service with three devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon with one device
Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, June 1988
First Lieutenant, June 1990
Captain, June 1992
Major, October 2000
Lieutenant Colonel, Aug 2007
Colonel, March 2014

(Current as of July 2016)