JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. – U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Eric “Rebel” Emerson, a fighter squadron commander with the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 177th Fighter Wing, received the 2024 Lt. Col. Anthony C. Shine Award during a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Feb. 10, becoming the first Air National Guard pilot to earn the honor in nearly 45 years.
The Shine Award, established in 1980, honors the legacy of Air Force Lt. Col. Anthony C. Shine, a Vietnam War fighter pilot who went missing in action in 1972. The award recognizes one outstanding Air Force fighter pilot in the rank of major or below for “superior leadership qualities, exceptional flying proficiency and community involvement.”
“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,” Emerson said. “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.”
Air Combat Command oversees the Shine award, selecting the top representative each year among the best of active component, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve fighter pilots. Shine’s daughter, Colleen, was in high school when her father went missing. She would eventually be instrumental in helping to find her father’s remains – leading to his burial in Arlington National Cemetery – and she would become an advocate for the remaining 1,566 Americans who are still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
“Rebel, your outstanding service in flying, teaching and leading is a reminder of all that is right about today’s Air Force.” Colleen said. “You are a sterling example for the caliber of character and excellence in flying my father stood for.”
During the presentation ceremony, Colleen remarked she stood in awe at Rebel’s extraordinary responsibility and community impact – spotlighting the vital role played by the Air National Guard’s 25 fighter units defending the Nation.
“This is the first time an Airman from the Air National Guard has won the Shine Award, and we are grateful to spotlight the Guard’s role in our formidable Air Force,” Collen said. “Lt. Col. Emerson embodied the National Guard motto of ‘Always Ready, Always There,’ leading extraordinary missions while serving his community with the same commitment.”
According to the award citation, Emerson earned the honor for an “exceptional year” as an F-16 instructor pilot and squadron commander. The citation highlights his leadership during a “no-notice” mission that rapidly mobilized more than 50 personnel and six aircraft, generating over 200 combat hours in support of coalition forces in the Red Sea. Additionally, he directed aircraft and personnel movements across multiple countries while maintaining continuous alert operations, guided pilot upgrade training and supported homeland defense missions – ensuring combat-ready Airmen and aircraft remained prepared to respond at a moment’s notice.
Beyond operational excellence, Emerson volunteered hundreds of hours as a youth basketball coach and mentor and played a key role in organizing community outreach initiatives, including food distribution efforts supporting more than 1,000 families.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Duke Pirak, acting director of the Air National Guard, said that while maintaining a war-fighter ethos as part of the world’s foremost air power is paramount, it’s what leaders “do on Earth that matters.”
“These are the reasons we fight, and there are reasons we serve. But there are great individuals whose lives are not only defined by their ability to ‘slip the surly bonds of Earth,’” said Pirak, who served as host for the award ceremony. “They're devoted, compassionate, selfless members of the community who seek to leave every place on every occasion better than they found it. Lt. Col. Shine was that individual. Lt. Col. Emerson is that individual.”
Pirak, as the Air National Guard’s senior leader and a fighter pilot himself, extended Emerson high praise.
“Rebel, in winning the Shine Award, you represent the best of the Air National Guard: rooted in the community, with lethal capabilities and an unwavering dedication to any and every mission,” Pirak said. “You are truly an example of the best of our profession, and I am proud to serve with you.”
For Emerson, the honor represents both recognition and responsibility.
“The spirit of Lt. Col. Shine reminds us to strive for excellence on and off the field, to learn from failure and then to teach others,” said Emerson. “This is who we are – Airmen bound by trust, loyal to our cause, dedicated to excellence in our craft and accountable for our actions.”