Rear Adm. Eric Ruttenberg is a native of Redondo Beach, California.  He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and was commissioned in 1988.  He holds a Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.  He was designated a Naval Aviator in 1990 and authorized to wear the Information Warfare Officer (Space Cadre) pin in 2011.

His initial sea duty assignment was to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Eleven (HC 11), where he flew the UH/HH-46 and deployed aboard USS Flint (AE 32) during Desert Storm and aboard USS Kansas City (AOR 5) in support of Operations Southern Watch and Restore Hope.  Later he served at Fleet Composite Squadron Six (VC 6) in Patuxent River, Maryland as the safety department head, flying the Pioneer Unmanned Airborne Vehicle.

Ashore, Ruttenberg served as deputy director, Integrated Overhead SIGINT Architecture, Phase II Program Office, Technology Division at the National Reconnaissance Office in Chantilly, Virginia.  In a subsequent tour, he served as executive officer of Navy Reserve (NR) Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) 0366 in Chantilly, Virginia. He then served as the Space and Network Warfare Program (SNWP) Manpower and Operations director.  Additionally, he served as U.S. Special Operations Command deputy J6X, supporting the acquisition of a multi-mission communication architecture supporting both special operations and intelligence organizations.

His command tours include NR SPAWAR 0366 and NR SPAWAR 0866, supporting the SPAWAR Space Field Activity in Chantilly, Virginia; NR SPAWAR 0466, supporting the Program Executive Office for Space and the Navy Communications Satellite Program Office in San Diego, California; Commander, Naval Information Forces Reserve, Region Washington District of Columbia; and commander NR SPAWAR HQ as the director of the SPAWAR Reserve Program in San Diego, California.

Previous flag officer assignments include the reserve director for maritime operations, United States Pacific Fleet, chief engineer, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command and the Deputy Program Executive Officer (PEO) Enterprise Information Systems. Ruttenberg assumed the responsibilities as the Reserve Deputy Commander, United States Pacific Fleet in October 2023. In this capacity, he supports the Director and Commander in the functional areas of intelligence, operations, theater security cooperation, deliberate and functional planning, communications, training and Reserve affairs.

Ruttenberg was the recipient of the 2003 Space and Network Warfare Program Junior Officer of the Year Award.  Personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and various service, expeditionary, unit and campaign awards.

Last Updated: 9 January 2024