eric lionheart
“After my team leader was killed… I left the military… One year turned into two, then three… I prayed every Sunday for death. But I realized — if your soul’s broken, nothing else matters… So I started the nonprofit First There Foundation.”
Eric Lionheart is a distinguished Air Force veteran and elite Combat Controller who earned two Bronze Stars, one with Valor, for his heroic actions during a four-hour firefight in Afghanistan, saving the lives of his Special Forces team.
Eric began his Air Force career in 1998, serving as a Security Forces member for six years before embarking on the rigorous two-year Combat Controller training pipeline. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 321st Special Tactics Squadron at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom.
During multiple deployments to Afghanistan, Eric was the sole Combat Controller, providing critical Close Air Support for his Special Forces team’s combat operations. His exemplary service earned him the Bronze Star with Valor, a testament to his bravery and dedication.
After transitioning from active duty, Eric served as a policy analyst in the Texas Senate during the 84th legislative session. While there, he completed his MBA in 2015 and later transitioned into the corporate sector. In January 2022, he left his role at the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (HHSC) to run for Congress in the 28th District.
Motivated by personal loss, Eric founded the First There Foundation in November 2021. The passing of his first supervisor and teammate, Chris “AZ” Rush, and a distress call from another teammate contemplating suicide inspired him to create the foundation. The First There Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, was originally founded to ensure every Combat Controller had a place to turn to when facing life’s challenges. In 2025, our mission expanded to serve all veterans, first responders, U.S Allies and their families. Eric’s commitment remains simple and powerful: to save at least one life each year, provide meaningful and lasting assistance, and spare the families of his comrades the pain of losing a loved one.
Eric has also provided executive-level business consulting for a medical group in California and for Sport Clips in Georgetown, Texas, focusing on leadership development, fostering a culture of excellence, and implementing innovative problem-solving strategies.
A resident of Austin, Texas, Eric enjoys staying active outdoors, running and swimming with his yellow Labrador, Lincoln. He also loves traveling, exploring new places, listening to music, and cheering for the Dallas Stars in the NHL.
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Eric Lionheart is a distinguished Air Force veteran and elite Combat Controller who earned two Bronze Stars, one with Valor, for his heroic actions during a four-hour firefight in Afghanistan, saving the lives of his Special Forces team.
Eric began his Air Force career in 1998, serving as a Security Forces member for six years before embarking on the rigorous two-year Combat Controller training pipeline. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 321st Special Tactics Squadron at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom.
During multiple deployments to Afghanistan, Eric was the sole Combat Controller, providing critical Close Air Support for his Special Forces team’s combat operations. His exemplary service earned him the Bronze Star with Valor, a testament to his bravery and dedication.
After transitioning from active duty, Eric served as a policy analyst in the Texas Senate during the 84th legislative session. While there, he completed his MBA in 2015 and later transitioned into the corporate sector. In January 2022, he left his role at the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (HHSC) to run for Congress in the 28th District.
Motivated by personal loss, Eric founded the First There Foundation in November 2021. The passing of his first supervisor and teammate, Chris “AZ” Rush, and a distress call from another teammate contemplating suicide inspired him to create the foundation. The First There Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, was originally founded to ensure every Combat Controller had a place to turn to when facing life’s challenges. In 2025, our mission expanded to serve all veterans, first responders, U.S Allies and their families. Eric’s commitment remains simple and powerful: to save at least one life each year, provide meaningful and lasting assistance, and spare the families of his comrades the pain of losing a loved one.
Eric has also provided executive-level business consulting for a medical group in California and for Sport Clips in Georgetown, Texas, focusing on leadership development, fostering a culture of excellence, and implementing innovative problem-solving strategies.
A resident of Austin, Texas, Eric enjoys staying active outdoors, running and swimming with his yellow Labrador, Lincoln. He also loves traveling, exploring new places, listening to music, and cheering for the Dallas Stars in the NHL.
