Major General Eric Little has more than 30 years of Military Service. He joined the Illinois Army National Guard in 1989 and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in August of 1992, after completing the Federal Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. BG Little earned a Bachelors in Management from the University of Illinois, Springfield. He holds a Masters in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College and a Master’s in Business Administration from Touro University.
General Little currently serves at the Pentagon as the Director, Manpower and Personnel (J-1), National Guard Bureau, his previous appointment was as Vice Director of Programs and Resources/Comptroller (NG-J8), where he provided oversight and direction for resources necessary to support the National Guard Bureau (NGB), the Army National Guard (ARNG), and Air National Guard (ANG) across the 54 states and territories of the United States.
Prior to being assigned to NGB, General Little served in numerous critical positions at all echelons of command and staff within the ILARNG, culminating as the Chief of Staff. As the ILARNG Chief of Staff, he served as the state's senior federal Army National Guard Management Officer and as the principle executive assistant and advisor to The Adjutant General, Illinois. He oversaw all military personnel, training, and logistics programs through the functional directorates. He also was the installation Commander, responsible for security and operations at all Illinois ARNG facilities and training areas.
General Little has held command at the Company, Battalion, and Brigade level. He has served as a Battalion Training Officer, Battalion Officer-in-Charge, Logistics Management Officer, Director of the Property and Fiscal Office, and as the United States Property and Fiscal Officer.
General Little is a 2013 graduate of The United States Army War College and 2017 Senior Leader Seminar attendee. His military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medals, and Combat Action Badge. BG Little has supported operations in Panama and Germany, and deployed to Iraq from 2004 to 2005 and Afghanistan from 2008 to 2009.
General Little lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife, Tammi, and together they have four adult children.