Colonel Erica Haas is the Commander, 5th Combat Weather Group, Fort Liberty, North Carolina. As commander, she leads two Combat Weather Squadrons comprised of 504 Airmen across 19 locations throughout the United States providing direct weather support to US Army operations. The 3d Combat Weather Squadron and 18th Combat Weather Squadron provide mission-tailored weather information to 2 Corps, 8 Divisions, and 37 Brigades to help plan, coordinate, and execute the supported ground commander’s scheme of maneuver. Col Haas oversees the readiness and deployment of 5th Combat Weather Group’s assigned weather forces and $14.3M in capabilities to meet global combatant command requirements.
Col Haas commissioned in August 2001 as a distinguished graduate from Officer Training School. She has served in staff positions at the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, Pacific Air Forces, Headquarters Air Force and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Her operational assignments include serving at the 603rd Air Operations Center, as the Commander, 18th Weather Squadron and Deputy Commander of the 18th Air Support Operations Group. Prior to her current position, she was the Senior Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
Col Haas has deployed as the Chief, Weather Specialty Team at the Combined Air Operation Center and as the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Staff Weather Officer in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science, Physics, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL
2001 Masters of Science, Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2011 U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS
2020 Masters of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2001 – December 2003, Lead Meteorologist, 25th Operational Weather Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
2. December 2003 – December 2006, Executive Officer/Combat Plans Weather Officer, 32d Air Operations Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
(January 2006 – May 2006, Weather Specialty Team Chief, Combined Air Operations Center, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
3. December 2006 – March 2007, Assistant Director of Staff/Weather Duty Officer, 603d Air Operations Center, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
4. March 2007 – December 2009, Airfield Support Flight/Operations Flight Commander, 1st Weather Squadron, Fort Lewis, WA
5. December 2009 – February 2011, Assistant Operations Officer, 1st Weather Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA
(December 2009 – June 2010, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Staff Weather Officer, 22d Expeditionary Weather Squadron, COB Speicher, Iraq)
6. February 2011 – June 2012, Staff Weather Officer, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, KS
7. June 2012 – June 2013, Student, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS
8. June 2013 – June 2014, Deputy Chief, Weather Branch, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI
9. June 2014 – June 2015, Executive Officer to the Vice Commander, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI
10. June 2015 – June 2016, Director of Operations, 15th Operations Support Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI
11. June 2016 – June 2018, Commander, 18th Weather Squadron, Fort Liberty, NC
12. June 2018 – July 2019, Deputy Commander, 18th Air Support Operations Group, Pope Army Airfield, NC
13. July 2019 – June 2020, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
14. June 2020 – July 2021, Chief, Weather Operations and Policy, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
15. July 2021 – May 2022, Chief, Weather Resources & Programs, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
16. May 2022 – June 2024, Senior Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
17. July 2024 – Present, Commander, 5th Combat Weather Group, Fort Bragg, NC
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2022 – June 2024, Senior Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Washington D.C., as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
(CURRENT AS OF JULY 2024)