Deputy fire chief celebrates 33 years of service Published Feb. 9, 2012 By Don Peek 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Eric L. McDaniel, Dobbins Fire Emergency Services deputy chief, was honored for 33 years of military and civilian service during a retirement ceremony Jan. 31. Family, friends and colleagues gathered at the Dobbins Consolidated Club to show their appreciation to McDaniel's commitment, honor and duty. McDaniel enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1979, and become a firefighter for Plattburgh Air Force Base, N.Y., in 1980. He came to Dobbins in 1995 as station captain. He has worked at Dobbins as assistant chief, deputy chief and interim fire chief over the last 16 years, applying his expertise on numerous base and local exercises, and participated in relief efforts, transferring injured victims of Hurricane Katrina and Haiti earthquakes. McDaniel will be joining the Georgia Tech University Fire and Emergency Team.