Eric Hommel – Veteran Guide of Vigilance Tours

Vigilance Tours is led by Eric Hommel, a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the U.S. Air Force with a lifetime of service and knowledge in Washington, D.C..

Eric began his 25 years of military service in the U.S. Navy as an enlisted submariner onboard a Cold War-era fast-attack submarine. Following his active duty enlistment he remained in the Navy Reserve and received an undergraduate degree in Historic Preservation.

After completing college, Eric switched armed services and gained a commission in the U.S. Air Force. As a young captain, he was selected as the Officer in Charge (OIC) of U.S. Air Force Ceremonies. In this capacity, he oversaw high-level ceremonial events at the Pentagon, the National Mall, and Arlington National Cemetery.

Following his role as OIC of U.S. Air Force Ceremonies, Eric reported for assignment at the Pentagon two months before the attacks of 9/11. He finished his remaining years in the military deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan, both under Army command, and working as an Air Force legislative liaison to Congress.

After retiring from the military, Eric worked as a stability operations consultant and provided training for government personnel preparing for deployment to conflict zones. Today, Eric brings his extensive knowledge of Arlington National Cemetery, Congress, and Washington, D.C. landmarks to life for Vigilance Tours, making him the only guide with such a diverse and rich background.

Eric is the author of The Losing Game: How to Lose a War and Fail Veterans (Lion Six Press, 2024), and Unity of Mission, chapter 9—“Hope Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” (Air University Press, 2016).