From the beginnings of Army aviation in the early 20th Century, Eric Procter’s family was involved. His grandfather served in France as an army aircraft mechanic in World War I, and his service inspired his grandson.
Procter joined the Army in 1976 at age 17 as an aircraft powertrain mechanic, and two years later (at the ripe old age of 19) he was selected for flight school at Fort Rucker, Ala. After graduation, he was appointed as a warrant officer and served three years with the Air Calvary at Fort Ord, Calif. In 1982, he returned to Fort Rucker to attend the warrant officer advanced course and the UH-1H “Huey” Helicopter instructor pilot course.
After a tour as a pilot in Korea and at Fort Bliss, Texas, he was honorably discharged in 1986. It was in Korea where he performed his most dangerous assignments, flying re-supply missions along the Korean DMZ.
In 2001, after working as a plant maintenance manager in El Paso, Texas, the Corps’ Galveston District hired him as a facility manager. In this position, Procter served as the Contracting Officers Representative for 12 service contracts and multiple operations and maintenance projects, and he often stepped forward as the acting logistics chief. He came to work for the Albuquerque District in 2009.
As one of the District’s construction control inspectors, Procter spends his time reviewing reports, checking submittals, observing contractor activities, monitoring safety compliance, researching codes and consulting with the project engineer.
In a touch of irony, Procter was assigned to a project to build a new Army Aviation Support Facility for the New Mexico National Guard.
“I am especially proud of being part of the District team that delivered the Army Aviation Support Facility, which will serve the needs of many future generations of Army Aviators,” he said. “I feel as if I have come full circle in my association with Army Aviation and that I have personally benefited yet have also had the opportunity to give something back.”
Procter said his military service has positively contributed to all of his civilian jobs, and he has recently reached a personal milestone by completing 20 years of federal service.