Army Brig. Gen. Laura Yeager’s active military service began in May 1986 after receiving her commission through the ROTC program at the California State University, Long Beach.
Her first assignment was medical platoon leader, 423rd Medical Company at Fort Lewis, Washington, followed by attendance at the Initial Entry Rotary Wing training school at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Her subsequent assignments include aeromedical evacuation officer, “FLATIRON,” at Fort Rucker, Alabama, as assistant administrator at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and as company commander, Medical Center Brigade. In 1992, she was assigned as the aeromedical platoon leader for the 507th Medical Company at Fort Hood, Texas. In February 1994, she was reassigned as an instructor at the Army Medical Department Center and School at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
After transitioning to the National Guard in 1995, Yeager served in a variety of assignments in both the California and Texas National Guard including: operations officer of the Headquarters, 3rd Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment; equal opportunity advisor and S-1 of the 49th Aviation Brigade in Austin; commander, 3rd Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment and executive officer 40th Combat Aviation Brigade. She served as the deputy commanding officer for the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade during its deployment in support of Operation NEW DAWN from 2010-2011 and assumed command of the brigade in 2012. She served as the chief of staff of the California National Guard’s Joint Staff from 2013-2016 then becoming its director until 2017.
Her civilian education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of California at Irvine and a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Chapman University College. She is also a graduate of the United States Army War College from where she earned a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies in 2011. She and her husband, Curtis, have four sons.