Brig. Gen. Erica R. Austin is the Mobilization Assistant to the Deputy Judge Advocate General, at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. She is responsible for assisting the Deputy Judge Advocate General in the professional oversight of more than 2,200 judge advocates, 350 civilian attorneys, 1,400 enlisted paralegals, and 500 civilians in the Total Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps worldwide, overseeing military justice, operational and international law, and civil law functions at all levels of the Air Force and Space Force commands.
Brig. Gen. Austin entered the Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Illinois and received her commission in 1994 as a distinguished graduate of that program. Upon receiving her commission, she pursued her law degree through the Educational Delay Program. Brig. Gen. Austin is admitted to the practice of law in the state of Illinois.
During her career, Brig. Gen. Austin has served as an Area Defense Counsel, Staff Judge Advocate, and a senior Individual Mobilization Augmentee at both the Numbered Air Force and Major Command levels. Prior to her current position, Brig. Gen. Austin was the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of the Operations and International Law Domain, Headquarters Air Force. In her civilian capacity, Brig. Gen. Austin is the Chief Regional Attorney for the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, in Denver, Colorado.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Arts, English Literature, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
1997 Juris Doctor, The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Ill.
1999 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1998–June 1999, Chief, Claims & Military Justice, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska
2. June 1999–June 2001, Area Defense Counsel, Eielson AFB, Alaska
3. June 2001–May 2004, Assistant Professor of Law, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
4. May 2004–May 2006, Legal Advisor, 34th Training Wing, Victim Liaison, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
5. May 2006–August 2007, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
6. August 2007–September 2010, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, 944th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, Ariz.
7. September 2010–July 2012, Staff Judge Advocate, 944th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, Ariz.
8. July 2012–July 2015, Judge Advocate, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
9. July 2015–May 2017, Individual Mobilization Augmentee, to the U.S. Air Force Academy Staff Judge Advocate, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
10. May 2017–June 2018, IMA to the 14th Air Force Staff Judge Advocate, Vandenburg AFB, Calif.
11. June 2018–April 2019, IMA to the HQ AFSOC Staff Judge Advocate, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
12. April 2019–August 2022, IMA to the HQ ACC Staff Judge Advocate, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
13. August 2022–May 2024, Mobilization Assistant to Director, Operations and International Law, Office of The Judge Advocate General, the Pentagon, Va.
14. May 2024–present, MA to the Deputy Judge Advocate General, Office of The Judge Advocate General, the Pentagon, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2012–July 2015, Judge Advocate, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., as a lieutenant colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
(Current as of May 2024)