Colonel Erik G. Johnson was commissioned an Armored Cavalry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 11 on 22 July 1949. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader Tank Company, 1st Battalion, 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment. | His subsequent duty assignments include:  Platoon Leader, Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, West Berlin; Company Commander, Headquarters Company, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, West Berlin;  Instructor, The Ground General School, Fort Riley, Kansas; Company Commander, Company M, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry, 7th Infantry Division, Korea;  Staff Officer, Office Assistant Chief Staff G-2 Second Army, Fort Meade, Maryland;  Professor Military Science, USA Instructor Grp, Fort Devens, Massachusetts; Province Senior Advisor (Bien Hoa), U.S. MassachusettsCV, South Vietnam;  Staff Officer, Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, Department of the Army;  Chief of Public Affairs, Headquarters U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army, Heidelberg, Germany; and  Executive Officer, Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, Department of the Army; and Director of Legislative Affairs, Association of the United States Army. | Colonel Johnson has a BA from the University of Maryland and a Massachusetts from the University of Wisconsin. His military schools attended include:  The Armor School, The Infantry School, The Airborne School, The Ranger School, The Artillery School; and Command and General Staff College. | His awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit w/ 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal, Army Commendation Ribbon w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Army General Staff Badge, and Grand Service Cross.