Laura J. Richardson, a native of Northglenn, Colorado, earned her private pilot's license at age 17 before attending Regis College and switching to Metropolitan State University of Denver for Army ROTC, where she was commissioned as a second lieutenant in aviation in 1984. She completed flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and met her future husband, retired Lt. Gen. James Richardson, also an Army aviator. The couple, who navigated parallel careers including dual battalion commands during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq (2003-2004), have a daughter. Renowned for building partnerships and team leadership, honed as an all-American swimmer and Colorado state champion, Richardson's 38-year career featured commands from company to theater level, including an assault helicopter battalion in the 101st Airborne Division, Military Aide to the Vice President, Army Legislative Liaison to Congress, Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Forces Command, Commanding General of U.S. Army North at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and other key roles in Afghanistan, Korea, and the Pentagon. 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. As the first female combat arms general in the U.S. Army, she served as the first woman to lead U.S. Southern Command (2021-2024), overseeing security cooperation in Central and South America and the Caribbean. Now a general (Ret.), she advises the Foundation for Defense of Democracies post-retirement.