Command NCO
Command NCO - Senior Master Sgt. Eric Griffin
Senior Master Sgt. Griffin is the Command NCO for Civil Air Patrol's Virginia Wing. In this role, he serves as an advisor to the commander. He represents the commander and is a conduit for communication within the wing. He is also a mentor for our NCO Corps.
Senior Master Sergeant Eric J.C. Griffin, Sr. is an Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor currently at Atlee High School located in Mechanicsville, Virginia. He is tasked to perform duties, accept responsibilities, and meet standards as prescribed by applicable Department of Defense (DoD), Air Force, and Air Force Junior ROTC instructions. As an instructor, he supervises all cadets participating in official AFJROTC unit events, AFJROTC community service events, and other unit activities (e.g., drill competitions, curriculum-in-action trips, base visits, etc.) that enhance or supplement the program. He has previously been assigned to Monacan High School, Chesterfield, VA and Lakeland High School, Suffolk, VA for a total of eight years as an instructor.
Senior Master Sgt. Griffin was born in Philadelphia, PA. In 1982, he entered the Air Force Reserve program as an Aerospace Ground Equipment Technician. He volunteered to be mobilized to support Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990. Answering a desire to contribute more to the Air Force, he became a First Sergeant. His first assignment as a First Sergeant was with the 514th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, followed by an assignment with the 514th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, finally servicing with the 714th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, all at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. As a First Sergeant, he has served on three deployments, the last tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Baghdad International Airport, Iraq. He has served with various Honor Guard units such as the 86th Aerospace Expeditionary Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany; 380th Aerospace Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates; 447th Air Expeditionary Group, Baghdad International Airport, Iraq, and currently with the March Field Total Force Honor Guard, March Air Reserve Base, California. He performed an active-duty tour as the assistant superintendent assigned to the 87th Air Mobility Wing Elite Honor Guard, McGuire AFB, New Jersey. During his tenure at the First Sergeant Academy, Senior Master Sgt. Griffin held numerous positions, serving as a Total Force Instructor, AFRC Course Director, Director of Education, and Director of Operations.
Education
1984 Airman Leadership School, Correspondence
1988 Associate Degree in Electronic Engineering, Community College of Philadelphia, PA
1989 Associate Degree in General Studies, Community College of Philadelphia, PA
1991 Non-commissioned Officer Academy, Correspondence
Associate Degree in Equipment Technology Community College of the Air Force
1992 Non-commissioned Officer Leadership Development Course, McGuire AFB, NJ
1998 Bachelor Degree in Organizational Management, Cabrini College, Radnor, PA
1999 Senior Non-commissioned Officer Academy, Correspondence / Course 08
2001 Master's Degree in Business Administration, Eastern College, St David's, PA
First Sergeant Academy, Warner-Robbins AFB, GA
2002 Associate Degree in Computer Information Systems, Community College of Philadelphia, PA
2003 Associate Degree in Personnel Management, Community College of the Air Force
2006 Senior Non-commissioned Officer Academy, Course 12
Academic Instructor Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2008 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course
Senior Non-commissioned Officer Leadership Development Course, Dobbins AFB, GA
Senior Non-commissioned Officer Academy - In Residence, Gunter AFB, AL (Class Vice-President)
2009 Expeditionary Combat Skills Training Course - McGuire AFB, NJ
2010 Enlisted Professional Military Education Instructor Course, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, AL
2011 Associate Degree in Instructor of Technology & Military Science Community College of the Air Force
Civilian Personnel Management Course, Ira C. Eaker College for Professional Development
2013 Advanced Supervisor Course (ADV USAF SC13E), Ira C. Eaker College for Professional Development
2014 Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, Brandman University, Riverside, CA
Certification
2010 Military Instructor - Community College of the Air Force
2011 Professional Management Certification - Community College of the Air Force
2012 Occupational Instructor Certification - Community College of the Air Force
2023 Advanced Instructor Certification - Community College of the Air Force
Assignments
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July - September 1982, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
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September 1982 - February 1983, Student, Aerospace Ground Equipment Training, Chanute AFB, Illinois
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March 1982 - June 2001, Aerospace Ground Equipment Technician, 514th Maintenance Squadron, McGuire AFB, New Jersey
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May - August 1998, Aerospace Ground Equipment Technician, 380th Maintenance Squadron, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates
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February 1999 - April 2010, Guardsman, 514th Air Mobility Wing Elite Honor Guard, McGuire AFB, NJ
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July 2001 - August 2004, First Sergeant, 514th Aerospace Evacuation Squadron, McGuire AFB, NJ
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October 2003 - March 2004, First Sergeant, 86th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
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August 2004 - October 2007, First Sergeant, 514th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, McGuire AFB, NJ
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May - September 2005, First Sergeant, 380th Expeditionary Logistical Readiness Squadron, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates
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May - October 2006, Adjunct First Sergeant Academy Course Instructor, First Sergeant Academy, Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama
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October 2007 - April 2010, First Sergeant, 714th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, McGuire Air Force Base, NJ
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May - September 2009, First Sergeant, 447th Expeditionary Logistical Readiness Squadron, Baghdad, Iraq
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January - April 2010, Assistant Superintendent, 87th Elite Honor Guard, McGuire Air Force Base, NJ
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May 2010 - December 2012 - First Sergeant Academy Course Instructor, Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, AL
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June 2010 - December 2012 - Guardsman, Maxwell-Gunter Elite Base Honor Guard, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, AL
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September 2011 - August 2012, First Sergeant Academy AFRC Course Director, Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, AL
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September 2012 - December 2012, First Sergeant Academy Director of Operations, Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, AL
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December 2012 - June 2015, First Sergeant, 452 Security Forces Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, California
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March 2013 - June 2015, Guardsman, March Field Total Force Honor Guard, March ARB, CA
Awards and Decorations
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award
Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device with six oak leaf clusters
Organizational Excellence Award
Air Force Good Conduct Medal
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Iraq Campaign with one oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal with two bronze stars
Overseas Short Tour Ribbon
Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border with one oak leaf cluster
Longevity Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 4 /'M'/ gold Hourglass Devices
USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Achievements
2000 - 514th Air Mobility Wing Elite Honor Guard Outstanding Honor Guardsmen
2007 - 514th Air Mobility Wing First Sergeant of the Year
2009 - 447th Air Expeditionary Group Honor Guard Member of the Month - August (Baghdad, Iraq)
2013 - March Field Total Force Ceremonial Honor Guardsman Augmentee of the Year
Effective Date of Promotion
Airman Basic - July 1982
Airman First Class - September 1982
Senior Airman - July 1983
Sergeant - July 1984
Staff Sergeant - March 1986
Technical Sergeant - April 1995
Master Sergeant - January 2000
Senior Master Sergeant - October 2007
Master Sergeant - May 2010 (Voluntary Demotion)
Senior Master Sergeant - August 2011
Community Activities
American Legion - Post 284
Air & Space Force Association - Richmond Chapter
Air Force Sergeant Association - Chapter 1360
Civil Air Patrol - Virginia Wing
Tuskegee Airmen - Howard Baugh Chapter
Veterans of Foreign Wards - Post 2239