Col. Erik Brown is the Commander, 152nd Operations Group at Nevada Air National Guard Base, Reno, Nev. He is responsible for ensuring over 150 Airmen conduct combat airlift/airdrop operations and Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) for Air Mobility Command.
Col. Brown began his military career in 1999 as an Airman Basic serving on active duty as a KC-135 crew chief and susbsequent service in the National Guard. He received his reserve commission on February 16, 2007 through the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science, Knoxville, Tenn. Upon commissioning as a Second Lieutenant, he earned pilot wings at Vance Air Force Base, Okla. in 2007. In 2014, after his upgrade to Instructor Pilot, Col. Brown was hired as an Air Technician and served as the Chief of Safety for the 152nd Airlift Wing. In 2018, Col. Brown was selected as Commander of the 152nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron followed by Commander of the 152nd Maintenance Squadron in 2019. He then progressed to Deputy Commander of the Maintenance Group in 2020. In 2021 Col. Brown was appointed as the Chief of Staff for the 152nd Airlift Wing followed by Nevada State Air Staff in 2022.
Col. Brown has amassed more than 2,800 flight hours, nearly 300 of which were flown in combat. Col. Brown is a decorated Command Pilot, Instructor Pilot, Evaluator Pilot, and MAFFS Instructor Pilot. Col. Brown has multiple overseas deployments serving in OPERATIONS SOUTHERN WATCH, CORONET OAK, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM and INHERENT RESOLVE. Prior to his current position, Col. Brown was the Director, Strategic Plans and Programs at the Office of the Adjutant General, Nevada Air National Guard Headquarters, Carson City, Nev.
EDUCATION
1999 Basic Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
1999 Aircraft Maintenance School, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2004 Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Ariz.
2005 Airman Leadership School, Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., by correspondence
2007 Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2012 Master’s Degree, Aerospace Science and Safety, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Ariz.
2012 Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
2012 Air Reserve Chief of Safety School, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
2013 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Accelerated Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2021 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 2000 – August 2003, Flying Crew Chief, 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
2. August 2003 – April 2006, Flying Crew Chief, 161st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Arizona Air National Guard Base, Ariz.
3. April 2006 – March 2007, Life Support Craftsman, 189th Airlift Squadron, Idaho Air National Guard Base, Idaho
4. March 2007 – August 2009, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
5. September 2009 – February 2010, C-130 Initial Training, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
6. February 2010 - May 2012, Pilot, 192nd Airlift Squadron, Nevada Air National Guard (NVANG) Base, Reno, Nev.
7. May 2012 – December 2014, Safety Officer, 192nd Airlift Squadron, NVANG Base, Reno, Nev.
8. December 2014 – July 2018, Instructor Pilot, Evaluator Pilot, Chief of Safety, 152nd Airlift Wing, NVANG, Reno, Nev.
9. July 2018 – January 2019, Commander, 152nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, NVANG Base, Reno, Nev. (October 2018 – January 2019, Evaluator Pilot / Assistant Director of Operations, Southwest Asia)
10. January 2019 – January 2020, Commander, 152nd Maintenance Squadron, NVANG Base, Reno, Nev.
11. January 2020 – November 2021, Deputy Commander, 152nd Maintenance Group, NVANG Base, Reno, Nev.
12. November 2021 – October 2022, Chief of Staff, 152nd Airlift Wing, NVANG Base, Reno, Nev.
13. October 2022 – June 2023, Director, Strategic Plans and Programs, NVANG Headquarters, Carson City, Nev.
14. June 2023 – May 2025, Commander, 152nd Operations Group, NVANG Base, Reno, Nev.
15. May 2025 - Present, Deputy Commander 152nd Airlift Wing, NVANG Base, Reno, Nev.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,800, including more than 300 Combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-6, T-38, C-130E and C-130H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and three oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Longevity Service Award with three oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass and four “M” devices
Air and Space Training Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Feb. 16, 2007
First Lieutenant Feb. 16, 2009
Captain Feb. 16, 2011
Major April 12, 2015
Lieutenant Colonel June 13, 2019
Colonel July 27, 2023
(Current as of August 2025)