COLONEL Laurie E. Rodriguez
Colonel Laurie E. Rodriguez is the Commander, 186th Mission Support Group at Key Field, Meridian, Mississippi. She leads more than 369 members across four squadrons and one flight delivering installation and mission support activities including civil engineering, force support, security forces, logistics, communications, and contract support. Her team supports a base community of 1,172 Airmen and civilians and their families.
Colonel Rodriguez enlisted in the South Dakota Air National Guard in August 1997. After basic training she graduated from Diagnostic Imaging School in June 1999. She commissioned in February 2005 as a Personnel Officer. In March 2011, she transferred to the Mississippi Air National Guard to serve as the A1 Director of the 186th Air Operations Group. Colonel Rodriguez has served over 26 years as both an active duty and drill status Guardsman, often concurrently.
Colonel Rodriguez has over eighteen years of full and part-time experience in the A1 and readiness community, working at all echelons of the Department of Defense (DoD), to include, Headquarters Air Force (HAF), First Air Force (1AF), National Guard Bureau (NGB), and Wing and Squadron staffs. Additionally, she has thirteen years in the Counterdrug community, working directly with State National Guard programs, law enforcement and community-based partners. She has led and implemented projects and strategic initiatives across multiple agencies and organizations of the U.S. Government (USG), to include, NGB, OSD, combatant commands (CCMD), Congress, the Executive Office of the President (EOP) and other Executive Branch agencies. Colonel Rodriguez was awarded the Presidential Staff Badge in October 2018 for a joint assignment in the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Prior to her current position, Colonel Rodriguez served as the Commander of the 186th Force Support Squadron, at Key Air National Guard Base, Meridian, Mississippi.
EDUCATION
2003 Associates of Applied Science, Radiological Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, AL
2005 Bachelor of Science, Clinical Leadership and Management, George Washington University, Washington, DC
2012 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence, Maxwell, AFB, AL
2016 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence, Maxwell, AFB, AL
2022 Air War College, by correspondence, Maxwell, AFB, AL
2023 Master of Science, Management and Leadership, Western Governors University, Salt Lake City, UT
ASSIGNMENTS or CAREER CHRONOLOGY
- February 2005 – October 2007, Protocol Support Officer/Acting Chief of Protocol, Office of the Chief, National Guard Bureau (NGB), Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
- November 2007 – May 2008, Acting Chief, Education, Training and Force Development, Office of Manpower and Personnel, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, VA
- May 2008 – September 2008, Protocol Officer, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan
- October 2008 – September 2009, Personnel Officer, Issues & Initiatives, Office of Manpower and Personnel, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, VA
- October 2009 – September 2010, Force Support Officer, Personnel, Mobilization & Readiness Office, Headquarters USAF (HAF), Washington, D.C
- October 2010 – December 2014, State Operations Section Chief (Active Duty for Operational Support (ADOS)), Counterdrug Division, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, VA
- March 2011 – March 2020, Director, Manpower Personnel and Services (Drill Status Guardsman (DSG)), 186th Air Operations Group, Key Field Air National Guard Base, Meridian, MS
- January 2015 – February 2017, Branch Chief, Current Operations (ADOS), Counterdrug Division, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, VA
- February 2017 – September 2018, U.S. Interdiction Coordinator (ADOS), Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Washington, D.C.
- October 2018 – September 2022, Congressional Liaison (ADOS), National Guard Bureau Office of Legislative Liaison, Arlington, VA
- April 2020 – February 2024, Commander, 186th Force Support Squadron (DSG), Key Field Air National Guard Base, Meridian, MS
- October 2022 – Present, Deputy Division Chief (ADOS), National Guard Bureau Counterdrug Division, Arlington, VA
- March 2024 – Present, Commander, 186th Mission Support Group (DSG), Key Field Air National Guard Base, Meridian, MS
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- February 2017 – September 2018, U.S. Interdiction Coordinator, Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel
- October 2018 – September 2022, Congressional Liaison, National Guard Bureau Office of Legislative Liaison, Arlington, VA, as a lieutenant colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Longevity Service Award
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two hourglass devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol)
Air and Space Training Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
NATO Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2015 National Guard Bureau Commission Officer of the 2nd Quarter
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Permanent member, National Guard Association of the United States
Permanent member, National Guard Association of Mississippi
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant February 18, 2005
First Lieutenant February 18, 2007
Captain February 18, 2009
Major February 20, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel March 5, 2017
Colonel March 2, 2024
(Current as of May 2024)