Looking Out for our Veterans

Eric W. Hohman ended his 15-year Air Force career as an elite Combat Controller. He earned two Bronze Stars, one with Valor for his actions during a firefight in which he and his team came under attack. “Sergeant Hohman’s courage under fire saved the lives of his Special Forces Team”.

After basic training, Eric entered the Security Forces career field. His first assignment was to the 95th Security Forces Squadron (SFS). As a Security Forces member, Eric completed five deployments to various parts of the world while finishing up his Business Management degree in October 2006. At the end of that month, Eric was accepted to enter the two-year Combat Control training “pipeline”.

His first duty assignment as a Combat Controller was to the 321st Special Tactics Squadron (STS) at RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom. Eric deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During his multiple combat deployments, Eric was the sole Combat  Controller responsible for all Close Air Support (CAS) during his Special Forces team’s combat operations.

After leaving the “operator” life, Eric ran for the 28th Congressional District. At the same time, Eric founded the “First There Foundation” as a result of his first supervisor/teammate (Chris “AZ” Rush) taking his own life six months after leaving the elite Combat Control Teams.

The First There Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) “whose mission is to ensure all Combat Controllers have a teammate to reach out to when life becomes difficult”. Besides taking care of teammates and our families, Eric wanted First There to shed light on the contributions and sacrifices Combat Controllers have made for our great nation since 1953.

Eric has recently joined Sport Clips in George Town, Texas where he is working alongside his friend and CEO Edward Logan. Together they are working on a special project to develop a “pipeline” for SOF operators to transition from the teams to the corporate world.