Colonel John Erickson
Inducted 10 October 2013
Colonel John E. Erickson graduated from Western Michigan University (WMU) in 1971. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation Engineering Technology with a minor in Business Administration. While attending Western he was the president of the WMU Ski Club for three years and a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. In 1975 he received a Masters of Business Administration from Columbus State University and graduated from the US Army War College in 1997.
He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in April 1971 after graduating from the Military Science program at WMU. Twenty-one years later, on December 15, 1992, he was promoted to Colonel. While serving on active duty, he became the Company Commander of a unit responsible for retiring and discharging thousands of soldiers returning from the war in Vietnam. After extending his active duty tour, he became the Chief of Personnel Actions Branch, helping soldiers who were having difficulty managing their personal and military careers and civilian finances. COL Erickson often refers to this assignment as being the “Ann Landers” of Fort Benning, Georgia.
As a citizen/soldier in the Army Reserves, he served on various command and senior staff positions with the 416th Engineer Command and the 86th Army Reserve Command. One of his command assignments included being the designated Battalion Commander for three major Personnel Service Companies (PSCs) and a Postal Unit. This command updated over 2,050 personnel records for 12 major reserve units, conducted Preparation for Overseas Movement for 15 units activated during Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and provided Military Occupational Specialty qualification training to all PSC unit members. At the same time, he was the Director of Personnel responsible for managing the administrative actions for 15 subordinate units.
Throughout his civilian career of more than 30 years in information technology, he provided management consulting expertise to Fortune 500 Corporations searching for opportunities to reduce costs and improve efficiency. This included instituting Total Quality Management Initiatives, streamlining work flows, managing large computer system integration projects, and providing advice on the selection of enterprise-wide computer technology. He has extensive experience in distribution, manufacturing, logistics, and finance from a supply chain integration perspective.
His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hourglass, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon 2nd Award.
After serving 3 1/2 years on active duty and 25 years in the Army Reserves, he retired from the Army Reserves in 2000. Colonel Erickson and his wife Cher reside in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois.