Army Lt. Col. Eric Ackles speaks at the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment’s reactivation ceremony Oct. 4, 2023, at Katterbach Kaserne in Ansbach, Germany. Ackles was fired as the unit’s commander on April 22, due to what the Army said was a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to command. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — The commander of an Army air defense unit in Germany has been fired after just six months in charge, the service confirmed Thursday.
Lt. Col. Eric Ackles took command of 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment in October, when it reactivated in Ansbach, amid growing concerns of Russian aggression on the Continent.
“A thorough investigation” led to his termination Monday, according to the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, of which 1st Battalion is a subordinate.
“Lt. Col. Ackles was relieved due to a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to command,” 10AAMDC spokesman Capt. Alec Watkins said in an email. “We take all allegations and investigations seriously.”
The command didn’t disclose further details.
Ackles’ removal hasn’t affected the battalion’s mission, Watkins said, adding that its soldiers “maintain a high level of readiness.”
The unit specializes in the short-range Avenger system, which uses surface-to-air missiles to shoot down aerial threats.
Two of its three battalions are based in the Bavarian town of Ansbach, while the third is in Vicenza, Italy.
U.S. air defense teams were rushed into countries on NATO’s eastern flank following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 amid fears of the fighting spilling over into alliance nations.
At a NATO summit in Madrid a few months later, President Joe Biden announced the creation of the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, based in Sembach, Germany, to provide command and control for all Army air and missile defense forces in Europe. He also announced that the 1st Battalion would reactivate.
Ackles served in various positions prior to his most recent post, including as a platoon leader and battery trainer.
The Florida native enlisted in the Air Force in 2002, where he was certified as an air traffic control specialist. He transferred to the Army in 2005, according to a biography provided at his assumption of command ceremony.
The military often cites “loss of confidence” when describing why commanders are fired, without providing specifics. The reasons can vary from poor performance and leadership to factors unrelated to work.
