By Joseph Vigil, Chief of Public Affairs, NMNG ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Brig. Gen. Eric Judkins celebrated his retirement at a small ceremony with fellow New Mexico National Guard Soldiers Sept. 20, 2018, at the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce. Judkins last served as the Assistant Adjutant General (AAG) of the New Mexico Army National Guard where he focused on maintaining combat readiness and helped execute the Adjutant General’s strategic vision. Chaplain Col. Elmon Krupnik said Judkins’ retiring turns his sword where he makes war no more and asked that he truly live with peace in mind and heart. “He has shown us the path of a patriot and enriched our lives with his level of professionalism, devotion to duty and service to our state and nation,” Krupnik said. “Every end is a new beginning.” After the invocation, Judkins said, “Man, I am already getting all teary. It’s tough… Chaplain, that really hits home. We are the sword and shield bearer for our nation and state and after doing this for 32 years, hanging it up is no fun.” Maj. Gen. Ken Nava, the Adjutant General of New Mexico first met Judkins when he went to see him and the 2-200th troops off to assist with Hurricane Katrina. “It was the first time I interacted with him and I really liked the way he approached problems, conducted meetings, held his staff accountable and the way he thought – very processed, data-driven, very efficient,” Nava said. “While chaotic at first, their excellent response served as the building block for all the subsequent responses the New Mexico National Guard has responded to since then.” Nava also credits Judkins for spending lots of time promoting goodwill for the NMNG at Ft. Bliss with the MaD Brigade (Mobilization and Deployment) and JTF North. He also organized the deputies council and got things moving in the right direction. Nava called him a true friend of the NMNG and wished him the best in his next endeavor. The Adjutant General awarded Judkins with the New Mexico Distinguished Service Medal, the NGB Certificate of Service, letter from TAG, and said his Legion of Merit is inbound. He also presented Judkins with a Certificate of Honorary Promotion (brevet) to major general and his TAG coin. Lt. Col. Michelle Jaramillo presented Judkins with a plaque handcrafted by New Mexico Guardsmen. On behalf of the NMNG warrant officers, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Lawrence Jiron presented him with their coin and thanked him for his mentorship and counsel. Col. Steve Garcia, the chief of staff, presented Judkins with a gift as well and on behalf of the command group, thanked him for everything. While presenting the MP Battalion coin, Lt. Col. Danny Olsen said that both Judkins’ and his career have intertwined for the past 19 years, working at Honeywell and in the NMNG’s conversion from artillery to infantry. “As one of your company commanders then and during the Katrina response, to Guantanamo and up to now, thank you for your years of mentorship, leadership, guidance and friendship,” Olsen said. Judkins began his remarks by calling Garcia front and center and jokingly said, “Attention to transition, the 400-pound blackberry of Gen. Judkins is officially transferred to JFHQ.” On a serious note, Judkins said the NMNG has always been great, but indicators are really popping now and that credit goes directly General Nava and the leadership of state. He told those present “you have a great boss who is going to continue to move the NMNG in a great direction.” “You can’t be a leader without the led and I feel like I have been followed here,” Judkins said. “Active duty leadership is tougher in some ways cause you have to tell them thousands of times, force them and make them do things.” Judkins said he was pleasantly surprised when he joined the NMNG. “I joined the Guard and everybody wanted to do the right thing and I was like what? I just have to point in a direction and people go get it done, what? I don’t have to kick them in the butt and coach them from step one? There is not a person here that has not jumped in wholeheartedly and given their heart and soul to get stuff done, and as a leader it doesn’t get any better than that,” Judkins said. While spending 11 years on active duty, Judkins said he thought he was pretty good at Soldiering, but he recognized that life happens so he got out to work at Honeywell on defense stuff cause he loves the military. “After three years of dinking around in the Reserves I heard of an artillery unit down in Las Cruces and I said holy cow, I am going join the Guard and have to put up with stuff like troops wearing Motley Crew t-shirts in the field and not caring about anything,” Judkins said. “After the first day at my first annual training, I said, man, was I wrong… these Guard troops kick butt.” Judkins said he had many fights with active duty cause they just don’t get the Guard. “Lt. Col. Danny Hughes and I proudly pushed back because of the New Mexico National Guard and the wonderful things you do,” Judkins said. “You are a true volunteer force of patriots, citizen soldiers, citizen warriors. Today, I am a retiring a proud New Mexico Guardsman is what I am telling you.” Judkins said he can’t put his finger on it, but the NMNG is truly different. “We were first in on Katrina with seven other states following us and guess who still gets calls and emails from the people of Plaquemines Parish… the NMNG,” Judkins said. “We went to Gitmo where New Mexico hit it out of the park. Everyone has a story like that from downrange. I can’t tell you why, but in my soul and my heart, New Mexico does things well when we are put on the spotlight, so be proud to be a New Mexico Guardsman.” Judkins said to his brothers from 1st Battalion, 202nd Field Artillery that a legacy continues to be built by those that continue to carry the guidon behind you. “I am proud of you and keep up the good work.” In closing, Judkins’ words of wisdom included running more effective meetings, making sure people are doing more than what the boss checks. He attributes his success to data-driven slide presentations after every drill to stay on track. “Establish battle rhythm and put it on your calendar,” he advised. “We as senior leaders must look at data and determine the path and organizationally, we will all get better.” Judkins gave thanks to Nava for placing trust in him and giving him the opportunity to serve with the New Mexico National Guard. Judkins began his military career at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in Field Artillery in 1986. He was assigned to active duty with the 2nd Armored Division (Forward), 4th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery in Garlstedt, Germany, serving as a recon survey officer, fire direction officer, platoon leader, and battalion fire support officer of a 155mm Self Propelled Artillery Battalion. In 1990, he was assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, serving as the regimental targeting officer during Operation Desert Storm. Upon redeployment to Ft Bliss, he served as the 2nd Squadron fire support officer and then as battery commander of 2nd Howitzer Battery, 2nd Squadron. Judkins was then assigned to the United States Military Academy Preparatory School and served as a company tactical officer and mathematics instructor. He left active duty in 1997 to work for Honeywell Defense Systems in Albuquerque. He also served as a West Point liaison officer in the U.S. Army Reserves for three years. Judkins joined the NMNG in June 2000 and was assigned to 1-202nd Field Artillery Bn. in Las Cruces, where he served as battalion operations and executive officer. He assumed command of 1-202nd in June 2004 and transitioned the battalion to the 2-200th Light Infantry Bn. During his command, he led the state’s Hurricane Katrina relief task force, led the first National Guard battalion on the Mexico border for Operation Jump Start, and provided relief during the Hatch, N.M. flooding disaster. He relinquished command in Nov. 2006 and was assigned the deputy commander of the 111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. In Jan 2008, he deployed to U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, to serve as Joint Task Force GTMO’s Director of Commissions Support Group and then as operations officer for the Joint Detention Group. He redeployed in Jan. 2009 to attend the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, PA and upon completion, took command of the Mobilization and Deployment Brigade at Ft Bliss, TX where he deployed and redeployed over 50,000 Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen across the globe. He was next assigned as the National Guard Bureau Counter Drug liaison to Joint Task Force North in Nov. 2012 and assumed the JTFN Deputy Commander position in Feb. 2014. In July 2016, he assumed the job of Director of the Joint Staff, NMNG and in July 2017, was reassigned as New Mexico’s assistant adjutant general-Army. Judkins next endeavor will take him to Puerto Rico where he has accepted a position with Janus Corporation. He plans to work there for a few years and come back home to retire in the Land of Enchantment.
