Senior Master Sgt. Eric M. DuBois is the senior enlisted leader of the 182nd Air Support Operations Group, 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria, Illinois. He serves as the principal advisor to the group commander on matters of health, welfare and morale, professional development and the effective utilization of the enlisted Special Warfare Airmen assigned to the group and aligned squadrons.
Senior DuBois began his military career in January 2003 by enlisting in the Illinois Air National Guard as a Tactical Air Control Party specialist. He graduated number one in his technical school in June 2004 and went on to become the distinguished graduate at the Joint Terminal Attack Controller Qualification Course in August 2007. During his 17 years in the TACP career field, Senior DuBois has benefited from assignments at the group and squadron levels. His duties and responsibilities have included operations training manager, chief JTAC instructor, operations superintendent, chief of weapons and tactics, chief of standards and evaluations, squadron superintendent and senior enlisted leader.
Senior DuBois is a subject matter expert with expertise gained during six flag-level exercises and three combat deployments—to include Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Senior DuBois was selected to attend the prestigious U.S. Army Pathfinder course to become one of the few Pathfinders in the TACP community. He was also selected to test and develop the current program of record Advanced JTAC Training Simulator (AJTS), greatly enhancing training tools available to the entire community. Previously employed for over 10 years as a dual-status federal technician, Senior DuBois is currently an AGR with the 182nd Air Support Operations Group. Prior to assuming his current position, the senior master sergeant served as a squadron superintendent, 169th Air Support Operations Squadron, 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria, Illinois.
EDUCATION
2004 Tactical Air Command and Control Apprentice Course, Det. 1, 334th Training Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2004 Combat Survival Training Course, 22nd Training Squadron, Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.
2007 USAF Airman Leadership School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2007 Joint Terminal Attack Controller Qualification Course, 6th Combat Training Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2008 Tactical Air Command and Control Craftsman Course, 37th Training Group, Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, Ala.
2011 USAF Noncommissioned Officer Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Pathfinder Course, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Ga.
2013 Associate’s Degree in Applied Science, Information Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Introduction to Electronic Warfare, 479th Operations Support Squadron, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla.
2015 USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Program, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Arctic Survival Training Course, Det. 1, 66th Training Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
2018 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy In-resident Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2003–November 2007, Tactical Air Command and Control Specialist, 169th Air Support Operations Squadron, Peoria, Ill. (February 2005–November 2005, Cavalry Squadron TACP, Tuz Khurmatu, Iraq)
2. November 2007–July 2008, Joint Terminal Attack Controller, 182nd Air Support Operations Group, Peoria, Ill. (December 2007–July 2008, 817th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, Enlisted Battalion Air Liaison Officer, Ghazni, Afghanistan)
3. July 2008–September 2013, Joint Terminal Attack Controller Instructor, 169th Air Support Operations Squadron, Peoria, Ill. (September 2010–May 2011, 817th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, Enlisted Battalion Air Liaison Officer, Mehtar Lam, Afghanistan)
4. September 2013–August 2016, Operations Superintendent, 169th Air Support Operations Squadron, Peoria, Ill.
5. August 2016–January 2019, Chief of Weapons & Tactics, 169th Air Support Operations Squadron, Peoria, Ill.
6. January 2019–August 2021, Squadron Superintendent, 169th Air Support Operations Squadron, Peoria, Ill.
7. August 2021–Present, Senior Enlisted Leader, 182nd Air Support Operations Group, Peoria, Ill.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Achievement Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Abraham Lincoln Medal of Freedom with two devices
Illinois Military Long and Honorable Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Illinois Military Attendance Ribbon with “9” device
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 AETC Commander’s Award for Top Graduate, Tactical Air Command and Control Apprentice Course
2004 MTL Award for Excellence, Tactical Air Command and Control Apprentice Course
2007 Distinguished Graduate, Joint Terminal Attack Controller Qualification Course
2008 Outstanding Contributor of the Quarter, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing
2013 Outstanding Senior NCO of the Year, 169th Air Support Operations Squadron
2014 Outstanding Senior NCO of the Year, 169th Air Support Operations Squadron
2017 Outstanding Senior NCO of the Year, 169th Air Support Operations Squadron
2018 Outstanding Senior NCO of the Year, 169th Air Support Operations Squadron
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States
National Guard Association of Illinois
Tactical Air Control Party Association
Veterans of Foreign Wars
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class Jan. 27, 2003
Senior Airman June 28, 2004
Staff Sergeant May 7, 2007
Technical Sergeant June 4, 2009
Master Sergeant Feb. 8, 2012
Senior Master Sergeant April 23, 2019
(CURRENT AS OF JUNE 2022)