Lt Col Eli N. Prince is Commander at the 341st Recruiting Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. He leads eleven flights, two Military Entrance Processing Stations, 32 geographically separated recruiting offices, a $1.2M annual budget, and 113 active duty and civilian Enlisted Accessions personnel dispersed throughout a 125,000 square mile region of south Texas.
Lt Col Prince earned his commission in 2008 after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy. Throughout his career, he has held various positions at the squadron, group, wing, and major command levels. Prior to his current position, Lt Col Prince served as the Chief of the Airlift Requirements Branch, Aircraft and Logistics Requirements Division, Directorate of Strategy, Plans, Requirements, and Programs, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
Lt Col Prince is a Senior Pilot with more than 2,100 flying hours, including over 450 combat hours. He served tours as a C-130E/H Aircraft Commander, KC-135R/T Instructor Pilot, and T-6A Evaluator Pilot. He has participated in numerous operations and contingencies, including Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, RESOLUTE SUPPORT, and provided support to the ALLIES REFUGE evacuation effort.
He is married to Major Christina Prince of Camarillo, California and they have four children, Samuel, Jesse, Leela, and Cara.
EDUCATION
2008 Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, CO
2008 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2012 Combat Aircrew Tactics Studies / Mobility Electronic Combat Officer’s Course, Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, St. Joseph, MO
2013 Squadron Officer School (residence and correspondence), Maxwell AFB, AL
2015 Master of Science in Aeronautical Science, Human Factors, with Honors, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, FL
2020 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence), Maxwell AFB, AL
2021 AMC Command and Control Operations Managers Course, USAF Expeditionary Operations School, Scott AFB, IL
2023 Air War College (correspondence), Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2008 – April 2010, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base (AFB), TX
2. May 2010 – February 2011, Student, C-130E/H Initial Qualification, Little Rock AFB, AR
3. March 2011 – September 2012, C-130E/H Pilot, Duty Officer, 50th Airlift Squadron (AS), Little Rock AFB, AR
4. October 2012 – February 2013, C-130E/H Pilot, Tactics Officer, 50th AS, Little Rock AFB, AR
5. March 2013 – September 2013, C-130E/H Pilot, Executive Officer, 50th AS, Little Rock AFB, AR
6. October 2013 – December 2013, C-130E/H Aircraft Commander (AC), Executive Officer, 50th AS, Little Rock AFB, AR
7. January 2014 – August 2014, Student, T-6A Pilot Instructor Training, 559th Flying Training Squadron (FTS), Randolph AFB, TX
8. August 2014 – June 2018, T-6A Instructor Pilot (IP), Gradebook Officer, 434th FTS, Laughlin AFB, TX
9. November 2014 – December 2014, T-6A IP, Assistant Flight Commander, 434th FTS, Laughlin AFB, TX
10. January 2015 – December 2016, T-6A IP, Flight Commander, 434th FTS, Laughlin AFB, TX
11. January 2016 – March 2018, T-6A IP, Assistant Operations Officer (ADO), 434th FTS, Laughlin AFB, TX
12. April 2018 – June 2018, T-6A Flight Examiner (FE), Assistant Operations Officer, 434th FTS, Laughlin AFB, TX
13. July 2018 – October 2018, Student, KC-135R/T Initial Qualification, Altus AFB, OK
14. November 2018 – April 2019, KC-135R/T AC, ADO 350th Air Refueling Squadron (ARS), McConnell AFB, KS
15. May 2019 – April 2020, KC-135R/T AC, Chief of Mobility 22d Operations Group, McConnell AFB, KS
16. May 2020 – September 2020, KC-135R/T AC, Chief of Inspections 22d Air Refueling Wing (ARW), McConnell AFB, KS
17. October 2020 – May 2021, KC-135R/T IP, Chief of Inspections 22d ARW, McConnell AFB, KS
18. June 2021 – May 2022, KC-135R/T IP, Chief of Command Post 22d ARW, McConnell AFB, KS
19. June 2022 – May 2023, KC-Y Requirements Manager, Tanker Requirements Branch, Directorate of Strategy, Plans, Requirements, and Programs A5/8, Headquarters Air Mobility Command (AMC), Scott AFB, IL
20. June 2023 – May 2024, Deputy Chief, Tanker Requirements Branch, Directorate of Strategy, Plans, Requirements, and Programs A5/8, Headquarters AMC, Scott AFB, IL
21. June 2024 – Jan 2025, Chief, Airlift Requirements Branch & Lead Tanker Recapitalization Program Requirements Manager, Directorate of Strategy, Plans, Requirements, and Programs A5/8, Headquarters AMC, Scott AFB, IL
22. Jan 2025 – Present, Commander, 341 Recruiting Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio, TX.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 2100 with more than 450 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: T-6A, T-1A, C-130E/H/H2/H3, KC-135R/T
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with service star
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with “N” device
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon
Air and Space Longevity Service with four oak leaf clusters
Developmental Special Duty Ribbon
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air and Space Training Ribbon
NATO Medal
(Current as of March 2025)