Who is this distinguished member of both the FASF and the El Paso Flight 24 of the Daedalians? When she last attended and spoke at one of the Daedalian Meetings, she was already a Brigadier General, but upon her return to her native California, she was soon promoted to Major General, a rank displayed by two General’s Stars on her epaulet.
It is U. S. Army and California National Guard Major General Laura Yeager.
Yeager, already an accomplished U.S. Army Black Hawk combat pilot, made news by becoming the first-ever female to command a full U. S. Army Infantry Division, ranging in its ranks from 12,000 to 20,000 troops. Yeager is her married last name, and her maiden name is Brandt. Her father, before her, was also an Army aviator and flew many missions in Vietnam.
Newly retired in May of 2022, the General is already busy traveling about speaking to various civic and military groups about leadership and her stellar career of 36 years in the U.S. Army.
Here are some photos taken when she was the speaker at the El Paso, Texas Daedalian Flight 24, which was also attended by our own Treasurer and long-time member, Alma Villezcas. They are pictured below along with FASF member, Cadet Amber Valverde.
December 2018 at Daedalian Flight 24 Meeting: L to R: Amber Valverde, General Yeager, and Alma Villezcas
General Yeager explains the mission of Task Force North’s Mission out of El Paso TX
Major General Laura Yeager On the Cover of the Toastmaster National Magazine
In Full-Dress uniform, Major General Laura Yeager addresses her troops . . .
The following photographs are courtesy of the Los Angeles Times and their staff photographer, Raul Roa:
Maj. Gen. Laura L. Yeager, walks past Adjutant General, California Military Department Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin, left, during the change of command ceremony for the 40th Infantry Division at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos on Saturday. Yeager, from Fountain Valley, CA is the first woman to lead a U.S. Army Infantry Division.
Maj. Gen. Laura L. Yeager, left, with retiring Maj. Gen. Mark Malanka, right, rides along for a review of the troop formations during the change of command ceremony for the 40th Infantry Division at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, CA.
Major Gen Laura Yeager, facing the camera and grasping the Division Battle Flag, takes over command of the US Army’s 40th Infantry Division.
Close-up of Maj. Gen. Laura L. Yeager, left, with retiring Maj. Gen. Mark Malanka, right, reviewing the troop formations during the change of command ceremony for the 40th Infantry Division at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.
Maj. Gen. Laura L. Yeager, left, looks on during the change of command ceremony for the 40th Infantry Division at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos with General Malanka on the right.
A member of the 40th Infantry Division, Captain Capt. Gerrelaine Alcordo talks about her excitement to have a woman in charge of the 40th Infantry Division at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.
The following photos of the General are from various other sources, including the US Army:
T hen full-Colonel Yeager when on active duty in Iraq.
Maj. Gen. Laura Yeager speaks during the 40th Infantry Division’s change of command ceremony on May 15, 2022, at Camp Roberts, San Luis Obispo, CA. (Courtesy U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Lani Pascual, 40th Infantry Div.)
MG Laura L. Yeager and her Father MG Robert Brandt, both Army Combat Helicopter Pilots, pose before US Army Chinook Troop Carrier Helicopter – US Army Photograph
Below is a brief (2:04) News Clip of General Yeager by KPIX | CBS NEWS BAY AREA about her taking command of the 40th Infantry Division at Los Alamitos, CA.
Next, courtesy of the UC Irvine Alumni Association, is a (44:30-minute-long) interview of now-retired Major General Laura Yeager by her childhood friend and fellow class of 1986 graduate, Libby Doughty. Both women sit as Directors on the University’s Alumni Board.
Below, is an official Army biography of General Yeager’s 36-year career through her retirement in 2022:
SOURCE OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE: ROTC
EDUCATIONAL DEGREES
University of California – Irvine – BA – Psychology
Chapman University – MA – Psychology
United States Army War College – MSS – Strategic Studies
MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED
AMEDD Officer Basic Course
AMEDD Officer Advanced Course
Combined Arms and Services Staff School
Aviation Officer Advanced Course
United States Army War College
United States Army Command and General Staff College, Brigade Pre-Command Course
Dual Status Commanders Course (NORTHCOM)
Army Senior Leader Development Program-Basic (ASLDP-B)
Harvard University, General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar
CAPSTONE
Joint & Combined Warfighting School (JCWS) JPME-II
Army Strategic Education Program – Advanced (ASEP-A)
Harvard University, Senior Executives in National and International Security (SENIS)
Army Strategic Education Program – Command (ASEP-C)
Combined / Joint Forces Land Component Commander Course (C/JFLCC)
FOREIGN LANGUAGE(S) None Recorded
| PROMOTIONS | DATE OF APPOINTMENT |
| 2LT | 30 May 86 |
| 1LT | 21 Oct 87 |
| CPT | 1 Dec 89 |
| MAJ | 1 Dec 98 |
| LTC | 23 Mar 04 |
| COL | 1 May 11 |
| BG | 8 Mar 16 |
| MG | 20 Jun 19 (2019) |
| FROM | TO | ASSIGNMENT |
| Jun 19 | 2022 | Commander, 40th Infantry Division, Los Alamitos, California |
| Sep 17 | Jun 19 | Commander, Joint Task Force North, USNORTHCOM, Fort Bliss, Texas |
| Jun 16 | Sep 17 | Director, Joint Staff – California Joint Force Headquarters, Sacramento, California; dual-hatted, April 2017 – September 2017, Army National Guard Assistant to the Commander, United States Army Alaska, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska |
| Aug 13 | May 16 | Chief of Joint Staff, Joint Forces Headquarters-California, Sacramento, California |
| Mar 12 | Jul 13 | Commander, 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fresno, California |
| Sep 10 | Mar 12 | Deputy Commander, 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fresno, California and OPERATION NEW DAWN, Taji, Iraq |
| Sep 08 | Sep 10 | Chief, Operations, Training and Standardization, Joint Forces Headquarters-California, Sacramento, California |
| Mar 06 | Sep 08 | Commander, 3-140th Aviation Regiment, Stockton, California |
| Apr 04 | Feb 06 | Brigade Executive Officer, 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fresno, California |
| Jun 02 | Apr 04 | Aviation Maintenance Officer, Headquarters California National Guard, Sacramento, California |
| Mar 01 | Jun 02 | Brigade S-1, Aviation Brigade, 49th Armored Division, Austin, Texas |
| Oct 99 | Feb 01 | Brigade Equal Opportunity Advisor, Aviation Brigade, 49th Armored Division, Austin, Texas |
| May 97 | Oct 99 | Battalion S-3, 3-140th Aviation Regiment, Stockton, California |
| Aug 96 | May 97 | Assistant S-3, 3-140th Aviation Regiment, Stockton, California |
| Mar 95 | Aug 96 | Flight Platoon Leader, 1-126th Medical Company, Mather, California |
| Feb 94 | Feb 95 | Military Subjects Instructor, Department of Healthcare Operations, Army Medical Department Center and School, Fort Sam Houston, Texas |
| May 92 | Feb 94 | Air Ambulance Platoon Leader, 507th Medical Company (AA), Fort Hood, Texas |
| Dec 91 | May 92 | Student and Commandant’s List graduate, Army Medical Department Officer Advanced Course, Fort Sam Houston, Texas |
| Aug 90 | Dec 91 | Company Commander, Medical Center Brigade, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia |
| Aug 89 | Aug 90 | Assistant Administrator, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia |
| Jan 89 | Aug 89 | Aeromedical Evacuation Officer, Fort Rucker, Alabama |
| Feb 88 | Jan 89 | Student and Commandant’s List graduate, Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course, Fort Rucker, Alabama |
| Sep 86 | Dec 87 | Platoon Leader, 423rd Medical Company, Fort Lewis, Washington |
| Jun 86 | Sep 86 | Student and Commandant’s List graduate, Army Medical Department Officer Basic Course, Fort Sam Houston, Texas |
| SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS | DATE | GRADE | |
| Commander, Joint Task Force North, USNORTHCOM, Fort Bliss, Texas | Sep 17 – Jun 19 | Brigadier General | |
| Chief of Joint Staff, Joint Forces Headquarters-California, Sacramento, California | Aug 13 – May 16 | Brigadier General |
| SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS | DATE | GRADE | |
| Deputy Commander, 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, OPERATION NEW DAWN, Taji, Iraq | Nov 10 – Dec 11 | Colonel |
US DECORATIONS AND BADGES
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star)
Iraq Campaign Medal (with 1 Campaign Star)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with 1 Bronze Hourglass and “M” device)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon
Expert Field Medical Badge
Senior Army Aviator Badge
Parachutist Badge
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Army Aviator
Flight hours: More than 1500
Aircraft flown: TH-55, UH-1, UH-60
Pilot wings: Fort Rucker, Alabama
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Toastmaster’s International, Club Number 04391254
Association of the United States Army
Military Officers Association of America
Daedalians
Whirly-Girls
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2019, Joint Qualification Level IV
1986 Army Reserve Officers Training Corps, Distinguished Military Graduate.