Eric Ward is the Deputy Program Execution Lead for the Nuclear Strategy and Strategic Readiness Workshop. Eric retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after twenty-one years in the United States Air Force serving through various assignments in nuclear operations, NATO policy, command and control, and test and evaluation.

Eric served as a nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile operator, instructor and Executive Officer at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. He next managed and evaluated several multi-million dollar intercontinental ballistic missile test operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and subsequently served as a Presidential Nuclear Strike Advisor at the Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington D.C. After attending Air Command and Staff College, he led NATO policy, manpower, funding, and legal negotiations at Headquarters United States European Command, Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany.  Eric spent his final years on active duty at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, as wing Inspector General, Chief of Safety, and Commander of the 740th Missile Squadron “Vulgar Vultures,” including a deployment to Ali Al-Salem Air Base, Kuwait.

Eric grew up in Marietta, Georgia, and graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration and as a Distinguished Graduate from AFROTC Detachment 160. He also holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Auburn University and a Master’s degree in Military Operational Art and Science from Air Command and Staff College at Air University. 

Eric lives in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, with his wife of twenty-four years Melissa and their two sons, Aidan and Liam. Aidan is a rising freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in Biochemistry, and Liam is a rising high school junior. They have two dogs, Maisel and Achilles-Pickles.