Erik Slavin

Erik Slavin (born ~1970s) is an American journalist. He served as editor in chief of the daily American military newspaper Stars and Stripes until August 2026.

Education Slavin graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1997. He later earned a Master of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of Florida in 2019, completing a graduate program that had begun 22 years earlier.

Career Slavin served as Europe and Middle East bureau chief for Stars and Stripes for eight years. He was based in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

In September 2025, Slavin was named editor in chief. Slavin criticized the changes, noting they could put reporters who are also members of the US military in legal jeopardy. Slavin claimed he was dismissed for insubordination following an interview where he objected to potential censorship by the U.S. military.

His firing received worldwide media attention.

On August 27, 2026, Slavin, Lederer, and Korte sued the Department of Defense in federal court, alleging the Secretary of Defense and the Department "are attempting to fire Plaintiffs for speaking up as private citizens in support of the press’s freedom to cover military operations, its need to reach all servicepersons, and in retaliation for their publication of a news report on deteriorating conditions aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln during its extended tour of duty in the Mid-East".

On August 28, 2026, following the filing, the three plaintiffs were given a one week reprieve from being fired.

Personal life His mother, Wendy W. Bleakley, was a teacher and librarian. He has a brother, Jamie Bleakley. In 2013, Slavin married Natsue in Japan. They have a daughter, Lana, who was born in 2016.