J. Eric Ager is a Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 114 in Buncombe County since 2023. A retired U.S. Navy Commander and pilot with 25 years of service, he grew up on a fourth-generation family farm in Fairview, North Carolina, where he learned values of hard work and community. He currently serves as Business Operations Director at Hickory Nut Gap Farm and Executive Director of Project HNG. Ager and his wife Rachel have four children and reside in the Reynolds community; he is known for extensive volunteering, including coaching youth sports and supporting scouting during his military postings in locations such as Guam, Turkey, Germany, Norfolk, VA, Washington, DC, and Monterey, CA.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Attended A.C. Reynolds High School, where he played soccer; graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, earning a commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy.
• Military Service: Served 1996–2021 as a Naval Aviator and Foreign Area Officer specializing in political-military operations; retired as a Commander.
• Political Experience: Elected to the North Carolina House in 2022 for the 2023–2024 session; re-elected for the 2025–2026 session . Serves on committees focused on issues affecting working families, children, and veterans.