Eric Dahlmann arrived as a Military Fellow at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in June 2023. Major Dahlmann is a special operations pilot with over 1,700 flight hours, including over 270 combat hours. He has conducted counterterrorism, hostage rescue, direct action, and other special operations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
He most recently served at Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) in Hurlburt Field, FL, as the Executive Officer to the Deputy Commander and the Chief of Senior Leader Management. In those capacities, he was the most trusted agent and advisor to the 3-star commander and 2-star deputy commander of an Air Force Major Command and the special operations air component on senior officer talent management and assignments.
Major Dahlmann was commissioned in the United States Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps after earning his history bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in 2010. He received a Master of Arts in Management from American Military University and completed Air Command and Staff College by correspondence. After pilot training, Major Dahlmann flew the C-130 Hercules providing tactical airlift for Air Mobility Commander before transitioning to special operations in 2015. He has completed operational assignments while assigned to the 67th Special Operations Squadron in the United Kingdom and the 9th Special Operations Squadron at Cannon AFB, NM, as an MC-130J Commando II Instructor Pilot, where he provided specialized air mobility in support of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) objectives.
His decorations include Meritorious Service Medals, Air Medals with a “C” device, Aerial Achievement Medal, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
