Colonel Erica K. Mantz, a native of Glennville, Georgia, was commissioned into the Marine Corps in May 2004 upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Systems Engineering. She completed The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia in June 2005 and was designated an Aircraft Maintenance Officer.

From 2005 to 2008, Col. Mantz served in maintenance control billets with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 267 and HMLA-169 in Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 39, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Camp Pendleton, California. She deployed with HMLA-169 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08. Col. Mantz was assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 39 from July 2008 to June 2009 and held several concurrent division officer billets including airframes, aviation life support systems, and ground support equipment.

Col. Mantz was assigned to Naval Air Systems Command aboard NAS Patuxent River from 2009-2013. She served as assistant program manager for logistics (APM-L) for the RQ-7B Shadow program in the Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office (PMA-263).

Col. Mantz reported to 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina following graduation from resident Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia in June 2014. She assumed duties as the G-3 Deputy Current Operations Officer and Senior Watch Officer. Col. Mantz participated in several CONUS exercises in Camp Lejeune and Twentynine Palms, California as well as OCONUS exercises in the Kingdoms of Morocco and Norway.

From June 2016 to July 2017, Col. Mantz served as the MALS-26 Executive Officer aboard MCAS New River, North Carolina. She completed a Headquarters Marine Corps tour in Arlington, Virginia as Aide-de-Camp to the 37^th Commandant of the Marine Corps in July 2018. Col. Mantz graduated from resident Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia in June 2019 and subsequently returned to NAS Patuxent River. She was assigned to Tactical Airlift Program Office (PMA-207) and served as the C/KC-130 military APM-L until June 2020 when she transitioned to the Level 1 military integrated product team lead (IPTL) C/KC-130 position. 

Col. Mantz served as the MALS-24 Commanding Officer aboard Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii from May 2021 to May 2023. During that time, she was redesignated to Aviation Acquisition Officer. Following her command tour, Col. Mantz completed resident Top Level School at The Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University aboard Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. She reported to NAS Patuxent River in June 2024 and served as the VH-92A Patriot Level 1 military IPTL at the Presidential Helicopters Program Office (PMA-274). Col. Mantz assumed duties as PMA-274 Program Manager in July 2025.

Additional education includes a Master of Science in Systems Engineering (Naval Postgraduate School), a Master in Military Studies (Marine Corps University), and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy (The Eisenhower School, National Defense University). Other military education includes completion of the Aviation Supply Short Course, Tactical Logistics Operations Course, JPME Phase II, Senior Acquisition Course, and multiple certifications from Defense Acquisition University. Col. Mantz is a recipient of the Wayne E. Meyer Award for Outstanding Student in Systems Engineering (Distance Learning) from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Her personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (gold star in lieu of fourth award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold star in lieu of third award), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.