Captain Eric-James Estrada, the commander of the 27th Public Affairs Detachment, was born at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, and spent his childhood as a military brat, residing in San Antonio, Texas, Yakima Training Center, Washington, and Anchorage, Alaska. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from St. Mary's University of San Antonio, Texas in 2007, and later obtained a Master of Arts from Central Michigan University in 2010.
Capt. Estrada's military journey began in 2011 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Public Affairs Broadcast Specialist. In the Same year, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division.
Following his redeployment, Sergeant Estrada spent the next two years participating in multinational training exercises across the Indo-Pacific Rim upon redeployment to Alaska. During his time stationed at Fort Liberty, North Carolina with the 3rd Psychological Battalion, 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne), he was selected to attend Officer Candidate School at Fort Moore, Georgia in April 2017, he commissioned as a second lieutenant in Field Artillery.
After completing the Field Artillery Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Capt. Estrada and his family relocated to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. There, he served as a Fire Support Officer and Platoon Leader with 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. Subsequently, he took on roles as an Assistant S3 and Detachment Executive Officer with 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne).
In December 2020, Capt. Estrada applied through the Voluntary Transfer Incentive Program for Functional Area 46, Public Affairs, and was accepted. After completing primary military education courses from July 2021 to September 2022, at Fort Huachuca, Arizonia and Fort Meade, Maryland, he and his family moved to Fort Drum, New York, to join the renowned 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry).