Brig. Gen. Brian S. Laidlaw is the Director of Strategy, Plans, Programs and Requirements, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. PACAF’s primary mission is to provide ready air and space power to promote United States interests in the Indo-Pacific region during peacetime, through crisis, and in war. He supports the Commander Pacific Air Forces by overseeing a portfolio including strategy, operational plans, international relations, theater security cooperation, and resource programming.
Brig. Gen. Laidlaw earned his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1997. Upon completion of Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, he served in multiple fighter assignments flying both the F-15 Eagle and the F-22 Raptor. In addition to his flying assignments, Brig. Gen. Laidlaw was a Legislative Fellow in the U.S. Senate; completed a tour in Office of the Secretary of Defense, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation; and served as the Principal Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense.
Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Laidlaw served as the Chief of Staff at Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science in English, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2004 Master of Science in Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness, Troy University, Ala.
2005 USAF Weapons School Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Air Force Legislative Liaison Fellowship, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, Washington, D.C.
2024 Combined Forces Air Component Commanders Course
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1997–December 1998, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. December 1998–July 1999, Student, F-15 Formal Training Unit, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
3. July 1999–July 2002, F-15C pilot, Langley AFB, Va.
4. July 2002–January 2005, Flight Commander/F-15 Formal Training Unit Instructor, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
5. January 2005–June 2005, Student, F-15 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
6. June 2005–June 2007, F-15 Chief of Weapons and Tactics, Eglin AFB, Fla.
7. June 2007–June 2009, F-15 Operations Officer, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. June 2009–January 2011, Department of Defense Legislative Fellow, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.
9. January 2011–May 2011, Student, F-22 Formal Training Unit, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
10. May 2011–June 2012, Chief of Standardization and Evaluations, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
11. June 2012–June 2014, Commander, 3rd Operations Support Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
12. June 2014–June 2015, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
13. June 2015–July 2017, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation Tactical Aircraft Analyst, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. July 2017–July 2018, Vice Commander, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
15. July 2018–July 2020, Commander, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
16. July 2020–August 2022, Principal Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
17. August 2022–June 2023, Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, Ramstein AB, Germany
18. July 2023–present, Director of Strategy, Plans, Programs and Requirements, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2015–July 2017, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation Tactical Aircraft Analyst, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. as a lieutenant colonel and colonel
2. July 2020–August 2022, Principal Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. as a colonel and a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: 2,200
Aircraft flown: F-15A/B/C/D and F-22A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
OTHER ACHEIVEMENTS
2019 USAF General and Mrs. Jerome F. O’Malley Award (wing commander and spouse)
AFA Florida Jerome Waterman Award
(Current as of March 2024)