A Northglenn 50th Anniversary and Women's History Month Event
Event Video
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Lt. General Laura (Strickland) Richardson Bio
Lieutenant General Laura J. Richardson grew up in Colorado and was commissioned a second lieutenant of aviation upon graduation from Metropolitan State College in Denver.
Her first assignment after flight school was in Korea with the 17th Aviation Brigade, where she served as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Brigade Staff Officer and Company Commander. She next served at Fort Hood, Texas on the III Corps staff and in the 6th Cavalry Brigade as a Company Commander and Brigade Adjutant.
Upon leaving Texas, she was assigned to the Battle Command Training Program at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas as an observer trainer and later attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College. She next served at Fort Campbell, Kentucky as an assault helicopter battalion Operations Officer and Executive Officer with the 9th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
LTG Richardson was selected to serve as the military aide to Vice President Al Gore at the White House in Washington, DC. She returned to Fort Campbell to serve as the Division Deputy G-3 of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and later commanded the 5th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
Following battalion command, she was assigned to the Army G-3/5/7 in the Pentagon where she served as Deputy Director, then Director, for the Army’s Transformation Office. After her Pentagon tour, she attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair in Washington, DC, and then served as the 100th Garrison Commander of Fort Myer and Fort McNair, and became the first Commander of Joint Base Myer Henderson Hall. Following command, she served as the Army’s Liaison Officer to the United States Senate.
LTG Richardson’s assignments as a general officer include Commanding General of the U.S. Army Operational Test Command; Deputy Commanding General of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas; Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications for Headquarters, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan; and at the Pentagon as Chief, Army Legislative Liaison.
She is married to Lieutenant General Jim Richardson and they have one daughter.Badges, Awards & Decorations
- Combat Action Badge
- Senior Army Aviator Badge
- Parachutist Badge
- Air Assault Badge
- Vice-Presidential Service Identification Badge
- Army Staff Identification Badge
- Defense Superior Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
- Legion of Merit (3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
- Bronze Star Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters)
- Air Medal (Numeral 7)
- Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Army Commendation Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
- Army Achievement Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
- National Defense Service Medal
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
- Korea Defense Service Ribbon
- Humanitarian Service Medal
- Overseas Service Medal
- NATO Medal