He was born in Ankara, and enrolled in the Aeronautical Engineering Department in Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Istanbul Technical University with his “Young Scientist Scholarship” started in his high school years from the Scientific and Technical Research Institute of Turkey (TUBITAK) in 1979. He was selected as one of eleven “The Future Turkish Aviator” by the “Turkish Air Force Improvement Foundation” in the same year and supported by the scholarship of success. 

When EREL was a sophomore, he joined the Turkish Air Force (TuAF) and graduated as an Aeronautical Engineer in 1982. He assumed his first duty at the 1st Air Logistics Center Command (TuAF - 1st HIBM) in Eskisehir of the same year. He has contributed and led in the depot level maintenance, modernization and system integration projects of aircraft platforms (i.e. F-16, F-4, T-38), engines (i.e. F110, T700/CT7, J79, J85, T56 series), components, engine controls and accessories .