Col Laura M. Lopez is the Deputy Commander, 195th Wing, California Air National Guard, located at Beale Air Force Base. She is responsible for providing trained and ready forces to Combatant Commanders, while ensuring the war fighting capability of seven diversely missioned squadrons and directs the Headquarters support functions. Assigned units, consisting of nearly 800 assigned members, deliver Intelligence, Combat Communications, Cyber Defense, Cyber Intelligence and Space Operations capabilities to Federal and State entities around the globe. She is additionally responsible for the daily operations of Headquarters Staff/directorate.
Native of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, in 1999, Col Lopez enlisted in the active duty Air Force as a Space Systems Operator. In 2002, she earned her commission as a Financial Management Officer through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Puerto Rico, Det 755. She has served in the Comptroller capacity with the United States Air Force, Air Force Reserves, New Mexico Air National Guard, California Air National Guard, and as National Comptroller with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Colonel Lopez holds a Level III Department of Defense and Defense Acquisitions Workforce Improvement Act Financial Management Certifications. Prior to her current position, Col Lopez served as the Director of Staff for Headquarters, California Air National Guard, located in Sacramento.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelors in Business Administration, Accounting, University of Puerto Rico, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
2003 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2003 Basic Financial Management Officer Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2007 Master of Business Administration, Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1999-June 1999, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. June 1999-September 1999, Student, Enlisted Space Operations Course, Vandenberg AFB, California
3. September 1999-August 2001, Space Systems Operator, 2d Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colorado
4. September 2002-August 2003, Deputy Budget Officer, 49th Comptroller Squadron, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
5. August 2003-August 2005, Financial Services Officer, 49th Comptroller Squadron, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
6. August 2005-March 2007, Budget Analyst, MILSATCOM Program, Space and Missiles Center, Los Angeles AFB, California
7. March 2007-October 2007, Budget Analyst, Multi-National Strategic Transition Command Iraq, Green Zone, Baghdad, Iraq
8. October 2007-October 2008, Executive Officer to the Comptroller, Space and Missiles Center, Los Angeles AFB, California
9. December 2008-December 2009, Financial Manager, Security Assistance Office, Multi-National Strategic Transition Command-Iraq, Green Zone, Baghdad, Iraq
10. December 2009-December 2010, Budget Officer, 9th Comptroller Squadron, Beale AFB, California
11. January 2011-July 2013, Comptroller, J-8, Special Operations Command Central, MacDill AFB, Florida
12. July 2013-January 2017, Flight Commander, Comptroller Flight, 150th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
13. February 2017-March 2022, Flight Commander, Comptroller Flight, 195th Wing, Beale AFB, California
14. April 2022-December 2023, Director of Staff, Air Division, California Air National Guard, Sacramento, California
15. December 2023–Present, Deputy Commander, 195th Wing, Beale AFB, California
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster Air and Space Achievement Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 Service Star
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Aug. 24, 2002
First Lieutenant Aug. 24, 2004
Captain Aug. 24, 2006
Major April 2, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 28, 2016
Colonel April 25, 2022
(CURRENT AS OF FEB 2024)