Legislative Liaison
Major General Laura J. Richardson
Major General Laura Richardson is currently assigned as the Chief, Army Legislative Liaison.
MG 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 as an assault helicopter battalion Operations Officer and Executive Officer with the 9th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
MG Richardson was then selected to serve as the military aide to Vice President Al Gore at the White House in Washington, D.C. Afterwards, 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 including a deployment 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, D.C. and then served as the garrison commander of Fort McNair and Fort Myer, Virginia. Following command she served as the Army's Liaison Officer to the United States Senate.
MG 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 and most recently Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications with Headquarters, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.
Her military education includes the Aviation Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Army Rotary Wing Course, the UH-60 Black Hawk Course, Air Assault School, Airborne School, United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Her awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Medal (seven), and the Joint Service Commendation Medal.
She is married to Major General Jim Richardson and they have one daughter, Lauren, who is a young professional at AT&T.;