Gen. (Ret.) Laura Richardson

Gen. (Ret.) Laura Richardson is a member of the board of advisors for FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power. She served more than 38 years in the United States Army, commanding Army units from the company to the combatant command level and serving as the Army’s first female combat arms general officer. Most recently, she served as commanding general of U.S. Southern Command from 2021 to 2024. Earlier in her career, she served as the commanding general of U.S. Army North, deputy commanding general of U.S. Forces Command, deputy commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, and commanding general of the U.S. Army Operational Test Command. In addition, she served as the military aide to the vice president and in Pentagon staff positions including director of the Army’s Transformation Office. While commanding an assault helicopter battalion in the 101st Airborne Division, she deployed her unit to Iraq during the first year of Operation Iraqi Freedom where she flew combat missions, and she served in Afghanistan in the International Security Assistance Force during Operation Enduring Freedom.