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Brigadier General Eric Underhill serves as the director of joint staff for the New York National Guard.
In this role Underhill is responsible for operations which involve both the Army and Air National Guard as well as the New York Naval Militia and New York Guard.
These include civil support operations and enduring missions such as Joint Task Force Empire Shield, the security force in New York City. He is also responsible for operations involving the New York National Guard’s two Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams, the Homeland Response Force mission, and State Partnership Program missions, and the New York National Guard training partnership with the Danish Arctic Command.
From June 2024 to October 2026, Underhill served as the deputy commander of the 109th Airlift Wing. The wing flies the unique ski-equipped LC-130 version of the Hercules transport and flies missions in the polar regions.
Prior to taking on the job at the 109th Airlift Wing, Underhill served as the director of joint operations for the New York National Guard. In that role he handled the same kind of missions he will now have overall responsibility for.
Underhill’s military career began when he enlisted in an Army Reserve Military Police unit in June of 1989 and deployed to Saudi Arabia and Iraq in support of Operation Desert Shield in 1990 and took part in operations to clear Iraq forces out of Kuwait in 1991.
He continued serving in military police positions until 1999, when he joined the Army Reserve National Combat Team.
In 2001, he transferred to the New York Air National Guard and was activated in support of Operation Noble Eagle following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Underhill received his commission through the Academy of Military Science in April 2002.
He went on to serve in engineering, operations and command positions with the 213th Engineering Installation Squadron at Stewart Air National Guard Base.
During that time, he deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
Underhill became deputy director of operations for the New York National Guard in October 2019 and director in February 2021.
In those positions, he helped direct operations involving more than 3,500 service members at more than 125 mission sites during the New York National Guard's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Underhill joined the 109th Airlift Wing in August 2023 as commander of the 109th Mission Support Group before becoming the wing's deputy commander in June 2024.
As deputy commander, Underhill helped lead more than 1,160 personnel supporting worldwide Department of Defense missions and New York National Guard requirements.
Underhill holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Buffalo, and a Master of Business Administration from Sage College.
He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, the Air Command and Staff College, the Air War College, the National Security Management Course at Syracuse University, the Combined Joint Warfare School, the Dual Status Commander Training Course and the Reserve Component National Security Course.
Underhill's awards include the Legon of Merit, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Iraq Campaign Medal.
In civilian life Underhill served in the New York State Police from 1991 to 2019.
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