Alabama Veteran of the Year

Thirty years in uniform. Still serving.

Eric Dudash spent more than three decades in the United States Air Force and every major conflict since Desert Shield. Today he speaks to schools, businesses and community groups across Alabama about teamwork, resilience and servant leadership — with his service dog Phantom beside him.

Call Eric — 940-228-8052 See what he speaks on

Speaking

One voice, three rooms. Eric tailors the talk to who is in front of him, and he brings Phantom.

Eric Dudash at a microphone, a screen behind him reading CMSgt Eric Dudash, USAF Ret., with the Air Force flag and colours; Phantom lies at his feet in a Warrior Freedom service vest — Phantom works the room too — he goes where Eric goes.

Schools and student groups

Teamwork, resilience and what service actually asks of a person — told by someone who did it for thirty years, in language a classroom stays awake for.

Businesses and leadership teams

Servant leadership from a career spent advising commanders on the readiness and morale of more than 1,200 people across 62 specialties.

Veterans and community events

Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs, PTSD awareness evenings, VFW and civic luncheons. Eric speaks openly about life after service, and about Phantom.

The story

Eric M. Dudash retired from the United States Air Force on 1 December 2018 as a Chief Master Sergeant, after more than thirty years and every major conflict since Desert Shield and Desert Storm, including Iraq and Afghanistan. In his final assignment he advised commanders on the readiness and morale of over 1,200 enlisted personnel across 62 Air Force specialties, and a training pipeline of some 35,000 graduates a year.

In 2022 Governor Kay Ivey named him Alabama's Veteran of the Year. He lives in Mentone, commands his VFW Post, and holds office at District and Department level. He mentors veterans through Warrior Freedom Service Dogs, volunteers with Comfort Care Hospice, places flags at veterans' graves, helped drive Fort Payne's Patriot's Memorial Park, and coordinates June Jam.

Phantom, his service dog, is the reason a lot of that is possible. Eric says so plainly, and says it in public, because he wants the veteran in the back row to know it is available to them too.

“I want to always help and be a servant leader.” Eric Dudash

Phantom, a German Shepherd in a Warrior Freedom Service Dogs vest, lying on a porch beside a pair of desert combat boots with DUDASH on the nametape — Phantom, and the boots that came home.

30+ yearsUnited States Air Force, retired 2018
2022Alabama Veteran of the Year, Governor's Award
CommanderVFW Post, with District and Department office

On the water

Eric fishes competitive kayak bass tournaments as ChiefD — from an adaptive setup, because service injuries made a standard boat impossible. He is straightforward about why he does it: time on the water does more for him than any medication.

Eric Dudash standing in his fishing kayak on open water under a wide blue sky, casting

The trail

Bassmaster Kayak Series, the Alabama Kayak State Championship, NAKA Big Bass and tournament days on Pickwick. Personal best: a 22.75-inch largemouth.

Adaptive by design

A Native Titan 120AP and a Hobie Bluesky 360 Pro Angler — proof that an injury changes the rig, not whether you compete.

Put your name on the water

Eric fishes a full season across Alabama and the Tennessee Valley, and he wears his sponsors where the cameras are: on the jersey, at the ramp, at the weigh-in and in every photo afterwards.

Post 3128's patch sits on that sleeve for the same reason a business's would. If you want a spot on it for next season, ring him.

Talk to Eric about sponsoring

Phantom, in his service harness, sitting in front of a large American flag

Get in touch

To book Eric for a school, a company or a community event, or to talk about sponsoring the season:

Phone: 940-228-8052
Based in: Mentone, Alabama
Speaking: Schools, businesses and community groups statewide
On YouTube: @ChiefDFishing1
On Instagram: @ericdudash