DMA Military Newsletter

Lt. Col. Eric Emerson

​Congratulations to our very own Lieutenant Colonel Eric “Rebel” Emerson, commander of the 119th Fighter Squadron, who received the “Lt. Col. Anthony C. Shine Award”, becoming the first Air National Guard pilot to earn the honor.

The Shine Award is a prestigious Air Force-level honor that recognizes one outstanding fighter pilot annually for their superior leadership, exceptional flying skills, and community involvement. It honors Lt. Col. Anthony C. Shine, an A-7 Corsair pilot who went missing in action during the Vietnam War in 1972.

According to the award citation, Lt. Col. Emerson was honored for an "exceptional year" leading the squadron through critical missions, including a "no-notice" mobilization supporting coalition forces in the Red Sea.

​Beyond his operational excellence, he dedicated hundreds of hours to the community as a youth baseball coach and mentor and spearheaded the distribution of canned goods to those in need in his community.

“It always feels special to be a ‘first,’ but more importantly it highlights the hard-working men and women of the Air National Guard and their contributions to the fight,” said Emerson. “Without these amazing Airmen, nothing we do in the air would be possible. I dedicate this award to the men and women of the 177th Fighter Wing.”

Congrats to Lt. Col. Emerson for this historic and well-deserved achievement!

Learn more at Air & Space Forces Magazine.

SPC Brandon Ramos

Specialist Brandon Ramos grew up in Woodbridge, NJ where he graduated from Woodbridge High School in 2018.

Looking to better himself and provide for his family, he decided to join the New Jersey Army National Guard in March 2022. That decision allowed him to continue his education, and he is currently majoring in criminal justice at Thomas Edison State University.

On the civilian side, Ramos is a police officer with the Irvington Police Department.

Currently, Ramos is deployed to the U.S. CENTCOM area of responsibility in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. His current duties as a DEERS operator keeps him busy interacting with other U.S. military personnel, coalition partners, and contractors by verifying their eligibility to be issued a common access card, update records, ensure accuracy of data, answer inquiries, and manage walk-ins or appointments.

His long-term goals in the military are to be the best leader he can be and continue to help shape the military’s vision in the future.

“Patience is a virtue and when you dedicate more time towards your goals and you meet it with maximum effort, they are achievable,” says Ramos.

1LT Tyasia Harris

1st Lieutenant Tyasia Harris, a resident of Bayonne, NJ, joined the military to gain access to education that would otherwise have been financially out of her reach.

As a first-generation college student who attended Seton Hall University, she did not have the same financial resources or generational guidance as many of her peers.

Thus, the military provided a path for her to pursue higher education without placing an overwhelming burden on her family or herself. Through Seton Hall's ROTC program, Harris joined the New Jersey Army National Guard in 2019.

“Through hard work I was able to secure a two-year scholarship which got me through the remaining years of college,” said Harris.

Currently, Harris is deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. She is in charge of the facilities management office for OIR and is the liaison between the building tenants and the Directorate of Public Works.

Harris’ long-term goal is to become a physician assistant through the military's Interservice Physician Assistant Program. She is planning to apply to the program this year, with the intent of continuing her military service by providing high-quality medical care to Soldiers.