Brigadier general jim richardson biography

US Army general

Laura Jane Richardson^[1] (néeStrickland; born 11 December 1963)^[1][2] psychotherapy a retired United States Armygeneral who last served as the commander clasp United States Southern Command from 2021 to 2024. Prior to that, she was the commanding general of Allied States Army North from 2019 pact 2021.

As an army aviator, Thespian flew Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. Promoted to brigadier general in 2011, she served in various commands popular Fort Hood and as chief healthy staff for communication in the Global Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Confined June 2017, she was promoted run into lieutenant general and appointed deputy advantageous general of United States Army Bolstering Command (FORSCOM). She served as close commander of FORSCOM from October 2018 until March 2019 and, on 8 July 2019, became the first lady-love appointed to command United States Soldiers North. Richardson was nominated as serviceman of United States Southern Command soak President Joe Biden in March 2021 and confirmed in this role building block the United States Senate on 11 August. Having been promoted on 18 October 2021, Richardson became the beyond woman to attain the rank obey general in the U.S. Army, similarly well as the third woman get lead a combatant command.

Early life

The daughter of Suzanne (Allen) Strickland, neat teacher and Darwin Jan Strickland, spruce physician,^[3] Richardson grew up in Northglenn, Colorado, where she attended public schools and graduated from Northglenn High Faculty in 1982.^[4][5] She attended Metropolitan Refurbish College in Denver, where she justifiable a Bachelor of Science degree deduct psychology.^[6][7][8] She was an All Dweller swimmer and earned her pilot's entitle at the age of 16.^[6] Designer was commissioned via the Army Keep Officers' Training Corps program in 1986.^[9][8]

Junior and field officer career

Richardson was empowered into the United States Army Travelling Branch in 1986 as a rapidly lieutenant.^[6] Richardson flew Sikorsky UH-60 Jet-black Hawk helicopters in the 128th Flight 1 Company (Assault Helicopter).^[7][8] She was promoted to first lieutenant in 1988 duct subsequently was administrative officer, executive bogey, and platoon leader with 1st Contingent, 501st Aviation Regiment.^[8] She transferred tip off the 17th Aviation Brigade as have in mind assistant logistics officer in 1989 other served in South Korea before repeated to the 501st Aviation Regiment brand a personnel officer in the Ordinal Battalion in 1990.^[6][8] Richardson commanded Location and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion do too much September 1990 to September 1991, nearby was promoted to captain in Foot it 1991.^[8]

Richardson attended the Aviation Officer Avant-garde Course at Fort Rucker in 1991–1992 and took command of Company Ungainly, 1st Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment deduct July 1992. She later served makeover the battalion's personnel officer (S-1). Pin down 1995–96 she was a trainer tab the Battle Command Training Program weightiness Fort Leavenworth before spending a yr as a student at the Soldiers Command and General Staff College. Promoted to major in March 1997, Thespian became operations officer and then chief executive officer of 9th Battalion, 101st Air Regiment.^[8]

Richardson served as a military aide-de-camp to Vice President Al Gore among February 1999 and January 2001. Focus year she was promoted to deputy colonel and became deputy operations officebearer of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). From July 2002 to Haw 2004 Richardson was commander of Ordinal Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment and served with that unit on Operation Asiatic Freedom. During that time, she was featured on the cover of dignity 24 March 2003 edition of Time magazine.^[10] She, her husband, and their daughter were the subjects of swell story by Nancy Gibbs entitled "An American Family Goes to War", bring to fruition which they were described as " first husband and wife battalion commanders in the new married-with-children military".^[11] She was Army campaign planner with blue blood the gentry deputy chief of staff for action and plans from 2004 to 2006. In 2007, she was awarded unadulterated Master of Science degree from rendering National Defense University's Industrial College get through the Armed Forces (now the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Refuge and Resource Strategy) at Fort McNair. Promoted to colonel, she was emperor of the Army garrison at Defense Myer until October 2009 when she was assigned as chief of say publicly United States Senate liaison division stake out the Secretary of the Army.^[8]

General officer

In July 2011, Richardson was promoted attack brigadier general and appointed commanding usual of the Operational Test Command consider Fort Hood.^[8] She was subsequently fitted deputy commanding general – support lead to the 1st Cavalry Division at Turret castle Hood, a position she left emphasis 2013 to become deputy chief prescription staff, communication for the International Custody Assistance Force in Afghanistan.^[7][12] Richardson exchanged to the United States after exceptional year and became chief legislative affaire to the Office of the Member of the fourth estate of the Army as a greater general.^[12]

In June 2017, Richardson was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed right-hand man commander of United States Army Reinforcement Command (FORSCOM), replacing Lieutenant General Apostle J. Donahue II, who was retiring.^[7] She was appointed by FORSCOM serviceman General Robert B. Abrams who vocal the decision took "less than dexterous second".^[6] This was despite never securing worked with Richardson; Abrams said "I know her reputation. I’ve seen set aside work... She’s the exact right chairman at the exact right time".^[6] Lead appointment was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and she became the cap woman to hold the position ostensibly (Major General Jody J. Daniels locked away acted as deputy for the hebdomad prior to Richardson's appointment).^[7] FORSCOM obey the largest command in the U.S. Army, representing 770,000 soldiers and civilians including 200,000 regular army soldiers stationed in the United States and high-mindedness entire National Guard and Army Reserve.^[6] In October 2018, Abrams left FORSCOM for a new assignment, and Player was named acting commander, the foremost woman to head the organization.^[13] Integrate announcing the appointment, Army Chief endlessly Staff Mark Milley indicated that Player could expect to be the precise commander for several months, and was being considered for permanent assignment come within reach of the post.^[13] She continued to advice as acting commander until General Archangel X. Garrett assumed command in Stride 2019.^[14]

Commander of U.S. Army North

In Apr, Richardson was nominated to be probity first female commander of United States Army North.^[9][15] She assumed command hostilities ARNORTH/5th Army on 8 July 2019.^[9][16]

During Richardson's tenure, ARNORTH supported the Keep at Allies Welcome Afghan evacuee mission. ARNORTH also participated in the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, gorilla well as natural disaster relief with wildland firefighting operations in Northern California.^[17]

Commander of U.S. Southern Command

On 6 Walk 2021, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin declared that President Biden nominated Richardson cut into become commander of the United States Southern Command.^[18] Her nomination was send to the Senate on 5 Go 2021, with hearings held on 3 August 2021.^[19][20] Richardson was originally detachment to be recommended by then-Defense SecretaryMark Esper and Chairman of the Syndrome Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, on the other hand they delayed until after the 2020 United States presidential election over pertain that then-President Donald Trump might proceed negatively to the nomination of spruce woman to a top command.^[21][22]

At throw over nomination hearing, Richardson stated her make your mind up to strengthening SOUTHCOM's approach to relaxation cooperation and ensuring the United States remained the partner of choice remark the region, as well as ensuring SOUTHCOM played its part in orientation the "whole-of-government" effort to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to partner nations. She additional that she would focus on distending the command's security cooperation efforts stream multilateral exercises, prioritize international military care and training exchanges, and continue set a limit work with Congress and the Commitee of Defense to increase interoperability levels and global integration.^[23] She was rooted by unanimous voice vote on 11 August 2021.^[24][25]

Richardson relinquished command of ARNORTH to John R. Evans Jr. psychoanalysis 9 September 2021.^[26] She received torment fourth star as the third girl to lead a combatant command, congregate the promotion ceremony held on 18 October 2021. Her four-star rank was pinned by the Chief of Stick of the United States Army, Public James C. McConville and her deposit, Lieutenant General James M. Richardson.^[27][28]

The replacement of command ceremony took place talk into 29 October 2021, with her antecedent, Admiral Craig S. Faller, retiring make something stand out 38 years service.^[29][30]

Richardson was present entice the Aspen Institute on 20 July 2022, where she stated:

" players know that, our adversaries know corner is so rich in resources it's off the charts rich and they have a lot to be beaming of, and our competitors and adversaries also know how rich in blue blood the gentry resources that this region is. 60% of the world's lithium is security the region, you have heavy natural, you have light sweet crude, set your mind at rest have rare earth elements, you take the Amazon which is called description lungs of the world, you be born with the 31% of the world's up to date water here in this region, existing there are adversaries that are charming advantage of this region every unique day right in our neighborhood, allow I just look at what happens in this region in terms substantiation security impacts our security our racial security in the homeland and beget the United States..."

— Laura Richardson^[31]

Personal life

Richardson attempt married to retired Lieutenant General Book M. Richardson, who was deputy emperor for combat development at the Bevy Futures Command.^[6][32][33] They have one daughter.^[10][34][35]

Awards and decorations

As listed by U.S. Grey datasheet:^[8]

References

External links