Brig. Gen. Lauren A. Courchaine serves as the Director, Warfighter Communications and Cyberspace Operations, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Warfighter Communications and Cyber Systems, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. As the Director, she is responsible for the guidance, oversight, and advocacy for Air Force warfighter communications and cyber systems implementation. She integrates comprehensive planning, strategic resourcing, and force development, readiness, and management activities to deliver critical freedom of action in cyberspace, advancing joint warfighting missions by ensuring the service maintains technological superiority and operational resilience across all domains of conflict.
Brig. Gen. Courchaine received her commission in 2000 after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy. She has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels. Her staff assignments include service at U.S. European Command, Headquarters Air Force, and the Joint Staff. She has deployed three times in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Prior to her current assignment, she served as the Senior Military Advisor to the Under Secretary of the Air Force.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2000 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2001 Aerospace Physiologist Training, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas
2006 Top Third Graduate and Chief of Staff Flight, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2006 Distinguished Graduate, Basic Communications Officer Training, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
2006 Master of Business Administration, Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Strategic Policy Fellowship, Washington, D.C.
2013 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Cyber 400, Washington, D.C.
2014 Joint Professional Military Education Level II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2017 Master of National Security and Resource Strategy with a concentration in Cybersecurity Leadership, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2023 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2025 Continuous Improvement and Innovation Executives Course, Institute for Defense Business, Durham, N.C.
2026 Leading Strategically Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2000–July 2001, Women's Junior Varsity Basketball Coach and Physical Education Instructor, Directorate of Athletics, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2. July 2001–September 2001, Student, Aerospace Physiologist Training, School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas
3. September 2001–March 2003, Aerospace Physiologist, 14th Flying Training Wing, Columbus AFB, Miss.
4. April 2003–September 2003, Wing Protocol Officer, 14th Flying Training Wing, Columbus AFB, Miss.
5. September 2003–July 2004, Officer in Charge, Aerospace Physiology Training Flight, 9th Physiological Support Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
6. July 2004–January 2006, Wing Executive Officer, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, Calif. (January 2005 – May 2005, Wing Executive Officer, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait)
7. February 2006–September 2006, Officer in Charge, Standardization and Evaluation, 9th Communications Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
8. September 2006–January 2007, Wing Executive Officer, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates
9. February 2007–June 2007, Flight Commander, Mission Systems Flight, 9th Communications Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
10. June 2007–March 2009, Flight Commander, Executive Travel Communications, 844th Communications Squadron, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. June 2008–January 2009, Chief, Network Branch, Afghan National Police, CJ6, Combined Security Transition Command, Kabul, Afghanistan
12. March 2009–April 2010, Chief, Executive Communications, Office of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
13. April 2010–July 2010, Assistant Executive Officer, Office of the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. July 2010–June 2011, Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
15. July 2011–June 2012, Strategic Policy Fellow, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. July 2012–June 2014, Commander, 743 Intelligence Support Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
17. September 2014–July 2016, Chief of Cyber Operations, Joint Cyber Center, United States European Command, Patch Barracks, Germany
18. August 2016–June 2017, Student, Dwight D. Eisenhower School of National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
19. July 2017–February 2019, Operations Branch Chief, Cyberspace and Electronic Warfare Operations Division, Directorate for Global Operations (J39), the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
20. February 2019–May 2020, Director of the Special Project and Innovation Division, Directorate for Global Operations (J39), the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
21. June 2020–June 2022, Commander, 67th Cyberspace Operations Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
22. June 2022–May 2024, Commander, 37th Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
23. May 2024–July 2025, Senior Military Advisor, Office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
24. August 2025–present, Director, Warfighter Communications and Cyberspace Operations and 17X/1B/1D Functional Manager, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2008–January 2009, Chief, Network Branch, Afghan National Police, CJ6, Combined Security Transition Command, Kabul, Afghanistan, as a captain
2. September 2014–July 2017, Chief of Cyber Operations, Joint Cyber Center, United States European Command, Patch Barracks, Germany, as a lieutenant colonel
3. July 2017–February 2019, Operations Branch Chief, Cyberspace and Electronic Warfare Operations Division, Directorate for Global Operations (J39), the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
4. February 2019–May 2020, Director of the Special Project and Innovation Division, Directorate for Global Operations (J39), the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with six oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
NATO Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2001 All-Air Force Women’s Basketball Team
PUBLICATIONS
“Restructuring for Competition: Rethinking the Area of Responsibility Concept for Great Power Competition,” Lauren A. Courchaine, Alexus G. Grynkewich, and Brian D. Courchaine, Joint Force Quarterly, Issue 98, 3rd Quarter 2020.
(Current as of May 2026)