1971 – 2026
Colonel Eric Bruce Johnson (Ret.), 54, of Suffolk, VA, passed away January 25, 2026, surrounded by his loving family at Sentara Obici Hospital.
He was born May 1, 1971, in Kenosha County,y WI, to Bruce and Connie (Krahn) Johnson. He attended local grade schools and graduated from Westosha Central High School. Eric married Amanda Flint on December 16, 2000, in Seven Lakes, NC, and served 35 years in the U.S. Army.
During his 35 years of honorable service, COL Johnson held a series of positions of increasing responsibility culminating in command of the 8th Psychological Operations Group, one of only two active-duty groups in the United States Army. COL Johnson began his Army career upon enlistment in 1989 and served as a Noncommissioned Officer in the infantry before receiving his commission as an Armor Officer through the ROTC Green-to-Gold program at Austin Peay University, Clarksville, TN, in 2001. He served in the storied 1st Battalion, 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, “Garryowen,” deploying to Iraq, where he was awarded a Purple Heart. He then joined the Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Regiment in 2006 and went on to serve in numerous critical assignments with multiple deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. Notably, he was the Detachment Commander in the Military Information Support Team at the US Embassy in Afghanistan; Commander, 9th Psychological Battalion at Ft Bragg; Director of Information Warfare, Assistant Chief of Staff, G9, 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne); and CJ39, Chief of Information Operations for the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. Always seeking to advance knowledge of his craft, he received a M.S. in Defense Analysis with a concentration in Irregular Warfare from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and later was a Chief of Staff of the Army Senior Fellow in New America’s International Security Program, where he worked with Dr. Peter Singer to counter adversarial mis/disinformation targeting service members. Upon retirement from the Army but wanting to continue contributing to the Information Operations community, he took a position with Arctic Slope Regional Corporation Federal Technology Solutions (AFTS) supporting Naval Installation Forces Command (NAVIFOR), Suffolk, VA. He found tremendous professional fulfillment working with the AFTS and NAVIFOR personnel.
His awards and decorations include the Combat Action Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault, Pathfinder, and the Army Space Badge. He has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal (5th Award), the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), and the Meritorious Service Medal (4th Award). In addition, he is a recipient of the MG Robert A. McClure Award, the Draper Armory Leadership Award, and a member of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.
He is survived by his daughter Samantha (Troy) Augustus, grandson, mother, sister Susan, nephew Colton, along with lifelong friends Amanda, Mike, Eric, Jason, Dawn, and uncles, aunts, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Bruce.
The family would like to give special thanks to the staff at Sentara Obici Hospital and Virginia Oncology Associates.
Memorial gatherings will be held February 28th at Local Folks Restaurant & Pub, 39601-60th St, Burlington (Slades Corners), WI 53105, from 1-4, and Ft Bragg, NC on March 5.
Burial will be held on a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.
Please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society in Eric’s memory in lieu of flowers.
