Major Erik Davis

Downing Scholar (Class of 2014)


Expert Bio

Major Davis entered the United States Army on May 3, 2003 after graduating from Michigan State University on an R.O.T.C. scholarship, commissioning as an Infantry Officer. His military schooling includes the Infantry Officer’s Basic Course, Infantry Captain’s Career Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, Airborne School, Military Freefall School, and Ranger School.

Major Davis’ first assignment was in Camp Hovey Korea where he served as a Mechanized Platoon Leader, in the 1st of the 9th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. After completing a deployment from Korea to Ar Ramadi Iraq, MAJ Davis was assigned as the Executive Officer of C Troop, 3rd (RSTA) Battalion, 61st Cavalry Regiment in Fort Carson, Colorado. Following the Infantry Captain’s Career Course, Major Davis attended and graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course. His first assignment in Special Forces was in B Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), where he served as the Advanced Operations Base Executive Officer in Diyala Iraq and as Special Forces Operational Detachment – Alpha 1323 Commander in Zerekoh Valley Afghanistan. After competition of his detachment command, MAJ Davis was assigned as the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) Assistant Operations Officer.

Major Davis’ awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Naval Unit Citation, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Tab, and the Ranger Tab.

Major Davis and his wife Kathryn have been married for eight months. They currently live in Federal Way, Washington.