Colonel Eric J. DiNoto currently serves as a member of the Massachusetts Army National Guard. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1987. Upon completing his initial enlistment with the Army, he transferred to the Massachusetts Army National Guard to pursue his undergraduate degree. He was later commissioned in 1997 through Officer Candidate School at the Massachusetts Military Academy where he was selected as the Distinguished Honor Graduate. Colonel DiNoto is a graduate of the United States Naval War College, Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies program. Additionally, he holds a Master of Arts in Homeland Security from Northeastern University, where he also teaches as an adjunct professor. Colonel DiNoto has held a variety of key leadership positions, both overseas and at home within his close to 35 years of service to our country.

Colonel DiNoto served in several key leadership assignments throughout his career. These assignments included; security task force commander during Homeland Defense missions in support of Operations Noble Eagle I and II from 2001-2003. Infantry Company Commander in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq from 2007-2008. He also served as a senior tactical commander in support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan from 2011-2012. Finally, Colonel DiNoto served as the liaison to the Commissioner of the Boston Police Department during the Boston Marathon Bombing in 2013, as well as the Director of the National Guard Homeland Security Institute.

His military and executive education includes; the United States Naval War College, the Army Command and General Staff College, the United Kingdom’s Command and Staff College, the Leadership in Homeland Security program at the Harvard Kennedy School, the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Homeland Protection Course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Lincoln Laboratory, and the National Security and Strategic Studies program United States Naval War College.

Some of his awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with (3) oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with (2) campaign stars, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, German Armed Forces Badge of Marksmanship, Schützenschnur- Bronze, the Order of Saint MauriceCenturion and the Order of the Sword and Shield.

Colonel DiNoto commits his time and efforts in support of several notable community service projects and veteran’s service groups. These projects and programs include, the Melrose, Massachusetts “Veterans in the Classroom” project, the Medal of Honor Society’s annual conventions, the USS Thomas Hudner, and the USS Thomas Kelley Commissioning Committees, along with supporting local veteran’s advocacy groups. Finally, Colonel DiNoto serves on the Fisher House-Boston board of directors, the USS Constitution Museum’s board of advisors, as well as the Melrose Soldier’s and Sailor’s Memorial Hall’s board of trustees, and holds a certificate in open meeting law.

Colonel DiNoto and his wife Juliet reside in Melrose Massachusetts with their daughters Lillian and Rose.