KINGSVILLE (News Release) - Captain Eric Bromley will relieve Captain Thomas Korsmo as commanding officer of Naval Air Station Kingsville, in a ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, August 5, 2022.

Korsmo has commanded the air station since July 2020, most notably successfully maintaining 100 percent mission readiness while navigating the COVID restrictions.

Captain Korsmo received a B.A. in History from the University of Washington and a Master’s degree in Military Operational Arts and Sciences from the Air Command and Staff College. 

He was commissioned from Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Fla., on July 5, 1996, and winged as a Naval Flight Officer on Sept. 27, 1997.

Prior to his selection to become the commanding officer of Naval Air Station, Kingsville, CAPT Korsmo was assigned to BUPERS-3 as the Head Officer Community Manager.

At sea, he was assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 embarked aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) supporting Operation Southern Watch and transitioned to USS Enterprise (CVN 65) to support Operation Southern Watch and opening strikes in Operation Enduring Freedom. As a department head with VAQ-142, “The Grey Wolves”, he served as Administration Officer, Logistics Officer, Operations Officer, and Maintenance Officer. During that tour, the squadron deployed to Al Asad, Iraq, flying combat missions to support U.S. and Coalition ground forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  He served as the Executive officer and Commanding officer of “The Patriots” of VAQ-140. During that tour, he deployed aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) supporting Operation Enduring  Freedom and oversaw the squadron transition to the EA-18G Growler aircraft.

His shore tours include, NORAD Deputy Chief for Maritime Warning, Director of Integrated Air Defense System Training at Commander Strike Force Training Atlantic, and as a flight instructor with the “Vikings” of VAQ-129, and Head of Officer Performance and Separations (PERS-834) at Navy Personnel Command.  

CAPT Korsmo has accumulated 2,400 flight hours, including 1,000 hours of combat time and 307 arrested landings. His awards include Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (three), Strike/Flight Air Medals (Eleven), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (four, one Combat “V”), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals (two) and various unit and campaign awards.

Capt. Eric Bromley a native of Piedmont, California, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2000 where he graduated with Distinction earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering.

Following flight training, CAPT Bromley was designated a Naval Aviator in February 2002 and assigned to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 120 in Norfolk, Virginia for Fleet Replacement Training in the Grumman C-2A Greyhound. Upon completion, he was assigned to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 in Norfolk. Following sea duty, CAPT Bromley completed an instructor pilot tour at VAW-120 from 2006-2008.

CAPT Bromley completed his disassociated sea tour as a “shooter” on board USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) from 2008-2011. He rejoined VRC-40 in 2011 as a department head where he served as Detachment Officer-In-Charge attached to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69).

Following his department head tour, he reported to Washington, D.C. to serve as a Legislative Fellow in the office of Representative Robert J. Wittman, (R-Virginia 1st District). He completed his Joint requirement as a Branch Chief at U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado from 2015 to 2016.

From 2017 to 2019, he returned to VRC-40 for his executive officer and commanding officer tours before serving as the Air Boss onboard USS George HW Bush (CVN 77). He was selected for major command in October 2021 and assumed command of Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas August 5, 2022.

CAPT Bromley has logged more than 2,200 flight hours. His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2), the Navy Commendation Medal (3), and the Navy Achievement Medal. He holds an EMBA from the Naval Postgraduate School.