Erika R. Slaton

Erika Slaton assumed the duties of director of Military Community Support Programs for Military Community and Family Policy on November 7, 2021. Ms. Slaton is responsible for the leadership, management and oversight of three centrally funded Department of Defense multimillion-dollar programs — Military OneSource, Military and Family Life Counseling, and the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities Program. Together, these worldwide programs that address a range of concerns that may detract from military and family readiness.

Prior to her assignment as director, Ms. Slaton served as associate director for Military Community Support Programs within the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy. In this capacity, she led the Outreach and Engagement team responsible for the planning and execution of numerous initiatives to promote the well-being, readiness and quality of life of 5.2 million service members and immediate family members of the military community.

Ms. Slaton has worked with the military community for more than 13 years. Prior to joining the Office of the Secretary of Defense, she worked as family program communication specialist at the National Guard Bureau and family readiness officer for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve and Wounded Warrior Regiment. In each capacity, Ms. Slaton developed and implemented plans to equip service members and their families with timely information and resources to enhance their readiness and resilience. She also brings a wealth of knowledge on the challenges of military life as a Marine Corps spouse for 15 years.

Ms. Slaton earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Spanish with a minor in chemistry from Millsaps College, and her Master of Information Systems Management degree from Keller Graduate School of Management. She is the recipient of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Group Achievement Award, the Department of the Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service and the Department of Defense Reserve Family Readiness Award.

The Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy is directly responsible for programs and policies that establish and support community quality-of-life programs for service members and their families worldwide. This office also serves as the focal point for coordination for a broad range of quality-of-life issues within the Department of Defense.