Commander, American Forces Network Korea 

LTC Eric Bloom 

LTC Eric Bloom enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard in June 1984 and served two years as a cannon crewman. LTC Bloom attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a Field Artillery officer in August 1986. His initial tour as an officer was with the 45th Field Artillery Brigade, where he served as an aerial observer, recon/survey officer, fire direction officer, executive officer and battery commander.

In 1996, LTC Bloom was assigned to the 45th Infantry Brigade where he served as a battalion S6, brigade public affairs officer, and inspector general.

In September 2003, Bloom deployed with the 45th Infantry Brigade to Afghanistan to become the PAO for CJTF-Phoenix. As the task force PAO, he developed and implemented a training program for the fledgling Afghan National Army Public Affairs staff, and managed that program for the next two years while also serving with the 56th Infantry Brigade.

LTC Bloom moved on to Germany in August 2005 where he served as plans officer for the 7th Army, U.S. Army Europe, Office of the Chief of Public Affairs. In June of 2006, LTC Bloom became the PAO for the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command, Grafenwoehr, Germany. LTC Bloom also served as an observer-controller at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany.

LTC Bloom was assigned to the 1st Armored Division headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany in 2009 and deployed to Baghdad, Iraq. LTC Bloom served as the US Division-Center public affairs officer in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. As US Division-Center’s area of responsibility included both Baghdad and Anbar, LTC Bloom worked public affairs issues that included national elections, training Iraqi Security Forces, Responsible Drawdown of Forces, changing from combat operations to stability operations and the Christian Church bombing. 

LTC Bloom graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast communications. His civilian career includes working in advertising agencies and in corporate communications as a video and film producer.

His military education includes the Information Operations qualification course, and at the Defense Information School LTC Bloom has completed the Public Affairs Qualification course, Senior Public Affairs course and the Joint Expeditionary Public Affairs course.

His military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal 2nd award, Meritorious Service Medal 2nd award, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal 2nd award, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal 5th award, National Defense Service Medal 2nd award, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal 2nd award, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and Combat Action Badge.

Commander, American Forces Network Korea 

LTC Eric Bloom 

LTC Eric Bloom enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard in June 1984 and served two years as a cannon crewman. LTC Bloom attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a Field Artillery officer in August 1986. His initial tour as an officer was with the 45th Field Artillery Brigade, where he served as an aerial observer, recon/survey officer, fire direction officer, executive officer and battery commander.

In 1996, LTC Bloom was assigned to the 45th Infantry Brigade where he served as a battalion S6, brigade public affairs officer, and inspector general.

In September 2003, Bloom deployed with the 45th Infantry Brigade to Afghanistan to become the PAO for CJTF-Phoenix. As the task force PAO, he developed and implemented a training program for the fledgling Afghan National Army Public Affairs staff, and managed that program for the next two years while also serving with the 56th Infantry Brigade.

LTC Bloom moved on to Germany in August 2005 where he served as plans officer for the 7th Army, U.S. Army Europe, Office of the Chief of Public Affairs. In June of 2006, LTC Bloom became the PAO for the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command, Grafenwoehr, Germany. LTC Bloom also served as an observer-controller at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany.

LTC Bloom was assigned to the 1st Armored Division headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany in 2009 and deployed to Baghdad, Iraq. LTC Bloom served as the US Division-Center public affairs officer in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. As US Division-Center’s area of responsibility included both Baghdad and Anbar, LTC Bloom worked public affairs issues that included national elections, training Iraqi Security Forces, Responsible Drawdown of Forces, changing from combat operations to stability operations and the Christian Church bombing. 

LTC Bloom graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast communications. His civilian career includes working in advertising agencies and in corporate communications as a video and film producer.

His military education includes the Information Operations qualification course, and at the Defense Information School LTC Bloom has completed the Public Affairs Qualification course, Senior Public Affairs course and the Joint Expeditionary Public Affairs course.

His military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal 2nd award, Meritorious Service Medal 2nd award, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal 2nd award, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal 5th award, National Defense Service Medal 2nd award, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal 2nd award, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and Combat Action Badge.