Gen. Laura Richardson

General Laura J. Richardson is currently serving as the Commander of United States Southern Command. She is a native of Northglenn, Colorado and a graduate of Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado. She was commissioned into the U.S. Army and trained as an Army Aviator. She holds a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University’s Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy. Over her career General Richardson has commanded from the Company to Theater Army level. She has also served in numerous staff assignments at a myriad of locations, including Military Aide to the Vice President at the White House in Washington, D.C., the Army’s Legislative Liaison to Congress at the U.S. Capitol, and at the Pentagon as an Army Campaign Planner. She is married to Lieutenant General (Retired) Jim Richardson and they have one daughter and a grandchild.