Veteran. Educator. Leader.
Dr. Eric B. Fretz is a nationally recognized educator, decorated U.S. Navy officer, and community leader who has shaped lives across the battlefield, the classroom, and the public square.
This is his story.
Military Service
20
Years of Experience
3
Deployments
30+
Awards
Dr. Eric Fretz retired as a Lieutenant Commander after 20 years of active and reserve service in the U.S. Navy. A Surface Warfare Officer by training, his deployments spanned both Gulf Wars, including work as a Battle Watch Officer and service in Baghdad with the Army’s 18th Airborne Corps.
- Deployed with USS CHOSIN CG-65 during Operation Desert Storm
- Led training at Naval Training Center Great Lakes, earning Master Training Specialist certification
- Mobilized to Baghdad with the Army’s 18th Airborne Corps (2008), where he built and led a Boy Scout troop for Iraqi youth
- Awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and 28 other honors
Even after retiring in 2009, Fretz has continued to serve veterans through leadership roles, mentorship programs, and multiple veteran-focused nonprofits.
Scholar. Innovator. Teacher of Thousands.
Dr. Fretz holds dual Ph.D.s in Psychology and Education from the University of Michigan, where he now teaches in both LSA and Engineering. With over 8,000 students taught, he’s developed popular courses like Entrepreneurial Creativity and Emotional Intelligence—and has been nominated five times for the Golden Apple Award, and been designated an Honored Instructor.
His academic highlights include:
- Master’s degrees in Psychology and Education (SIU and UM)
- Adjunct Professor and consultant across multiple universities and organizations
- International consultant with the William Davidson Institute, mentoring educators & leaders along the Syrian and Ukrainian borders.
- Owns/leads multiple businesses and non-profit 501c3’s.
- Appointed by the Governor of Michigan as State Director of the Selective Service System (GS-15 level)
A Legacy of Leadership & Community.
Outside the classroom and the Navy, Dr. Fretz has spent decades investing in his community:
- Director of Veterans Treatment Court mentorship programs
- Chair of Region 9 Veterans Community Action Team (covering 6 counties and 60,000 veterans)
- Founder of two 501(c)(3) charities supporting veterans
- Host of Veterans Radio America
- Editorial board of the Journal of Veterans Studies, and Board Member of the Veteran Studies Association
- Longtime Boy Scout leader and recipient of the National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award
- Volunteer instructor with the Red Cross for over two decades
He lives outside Ann Arbor with his wife, Dr. Jennifer Fretz, and their three children, continuing his commitment to service and community leadership
