Col. Eric K. Shafa is Commander, 42nd Air Base Wing, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. He is responsible for providing all base operating support, infrastructure and services support for 42,000 active-duty, Reserve, civilian and contractor personnel, students and families at Maxwell and Gunter Annex in direct support of Air University, the 908th Airlift Wing, Air Force Space Command and Air Force Materiel Command units, the Defense Information Systems Agency and more than 40 other mission partners. As Maxwell's installation commander, he interacts with local officials across a three-county, 12-city region with an annual military economic impact of $1.2 billion.
Colonel Shafa received his commission in 1993 through Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps from San Jose State University. He entered active duty in May 1994. He has held operational assignments at the flight and squadron level, served as an Afghanistan/Pakistan (AFPAK) Hand, and commanded a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Afghanistan. He has also served in Headquarters’ staff positions at Air Force Special Operations Command, U.S. Central Command and Headquarters U.S. Air Force. Colonel Shafa has numerous deployments to include combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and participation in multiple joint exercises involving ground and aircrew duty. He is also a designated Air Force International Affairs Specialist, and has a working knowledge of Afghan Dari and Persian Farsi languages. Prior to assuming his current duties, he served as Commander, 47th Mission Support Group, Laughlin AFB, Texas.
EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor of Science, San Jose State University, Calif.
1999 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1999-2000 Joint Special Operations Courses
2000 Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course
2000 Joint Aerospace Command and Control Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla., distinguished graduate
2002 Joint Firepower Course, Distinguished Graduate, Nellis AFB, Nev., distinguished graduate
2006 Master of Arts, International Affairs, Salve Regina University, R.I.
2007 Master of Science, Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 AFPAK Hands Program / Defense Language Institute and Cultural Training
2010-2011 Counterinsurgency Seminar and Leaders Course, Kabul, Afghanistan
2011 Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2014 Master of Science, Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
2016 Leadership Development Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1994 - August 1994, Student, Air Traffic Control Basic Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2. August 1994 - July 1995, Student, Airfield Operations Officer Training Program, 325th Operation Support Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
3. July 1995 - October 1997, Airfield Operations Flight Officer, 9th Operations Support Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
4. October 1997 - October 1998, Deputy Flight Commander, Airfield Operations, 51st Operations Support Squadron, Osan AB, South Korea
5. October 1998 - October 1999, Flight Commander, Airfield Operations, 8th Operations Support Squadron, Kunsan AB, South Korea.
6. October 1999 - July 2001, Combat Airspace Manager and later Chief, Combat Airspace Operations, Air ForceSpecial Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
7. July 2001 - December 2002, Chief, Airspace Management Special Operations Liaison Division, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
8. December 2002 - July 2005, Flight Commander, Airfield Operations, 47th Operations Support Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
9.July 2005 - July 2006, Chief, Domestic Aviation Policy and Unmanned Aircraft Integration, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
10. August 2006 - June 2007, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. June 2007 - June 2008, Deputy Foreign Political Adviser, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
12. June 2008 - June 2009, Executive Officer, J3 Operations Directorate, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
13.June 2009 - May 2011, Director of Operations, 100th Operations Support Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, England, then AFPAK Hand-Senior Development Stability Officer, Deputy Chief of Staff Stability, Headquarters International Security Assistance Force, Kabul, Afghanistan
14. June 2011 - September 2011, Student, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
15.September 2011 - February 2012, AFPAK Hand, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
16. February 2012 - September 2012, Commander, PRT Kapisa, Forward Operating Base Nejrab, Afghanistan
17. September 2012 - June 2013, Chief, Airspace and Airfield Operations Policy Branch, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
18. July 2013 - June 2014, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
19. July 2014 - July 2016, Commander, 47th Mission Support Group, Laughlin AFB, Texas
20. July 2016 – present, Commander, 42nd Air Base Wing, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with valor device and two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal with gold star
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2012 U.S. Army Combat Action Badge
2012 Afghan Bravery Medal
2012 French National Defense Medal
2012 Lance P. Sijan Award, Air Force District of Washington
2012 Headquarters Air Force A3/5 Field Grade Officer of the Year
2003 U.S. Air Force Airfield Operations Officer of the Year
2003 Air Education and Training Command Airfield Operations Officer of the Year
2002 Air Force Special Operations Command Airfield Operations Officer of the Year
PUBLICATIONS
“Iran’s Emergence as a Cyber Power,” Strategic Studies Institute, August 2014
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Nov. 22, 1993
First Lieutenant Nov. 22, 1995
Captain Nov. 22, 1997
Major March 1, 2004
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 1, 2009
Colonel Oct. 1, 2014
(Current as of July 2016)