He previously served as Senior Adviser to the now-defunct National Security Network, a Washington, D.C.–based think tank focused on foreign policy and defense issues.

He was piloting a B-57B when it crashed on a night interdiction mission over Salavan Province, Laos on 13 January 1969 and he and the other crewman, Paul E. Getchell, were listed as missing in action for many years.

This stands in contrast to the support of Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, the senior U.S. commander in Iraq, whose remarks during the Iraqi battalion's graduation spoke of "high expectations that in fact they would help us bring security and stability back to the country.

After retiring from the Army in 2006 Eaton was a frequent guest on various media outlets, where he often criticized the George W. Bush administration's prosecution of the Iraq War.

In 2007, Eaton appeared in a political ad for VoteVets.org, similar to the ones prepared by retired Army Major General John Batiste.

[citation needed] Eaton appeared on Bill Maher's HBO talk show and spoke out strongly against those who launched the Iraq War.

Following Clinton's concession of the Democratic primary, Eaton has made several appearances in support of Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

Eaton currently serves as a senior advisor to the Vet Voice Foundation which encourages veterans to be active participants in their return to civilian life.