Lieutenant General Laura J. Richardson, the current Deputy Commanding General for the U.S. Army Forces Command, will speak to more than 150 graduates in Averett University’s Winter Commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 9. The ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m., will be held at the University’s E. Stuart James Grant Athletic and Convocation Center at the North Campus, 707 Mt. Cross Rd. in Danville.

Two-thirds of the graduates this December completed their degrees within the University’s Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) program, while the rest are graduating from the traditional program. Thirty-four of the graduates completed their degree in August, but are participating in the Winter Commencement ceremony. Among the graduates, there are 23 veterans, as well as four international students from three foreign countries: Ecuador, Finland and Sweden.

The honorary speaker, LTG Richardson, grew up in Colorado and was commissioned a second lieutenant of aviation upon graduation from Metropolitan State College in Denver. During her military career, LTG Richardson served in Korea; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; and at Fort Campbell, Ky.

LTG Richardson was selected to serve as the military aide to Vice President Al Gore at the White House in Washington, D.C. She returned to Fort Campbell to serve as the Division Deputy G-3 of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and later commanded the 5th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Following battalion command, she was assigned to the Army G-3/5/7 in the Pentagon; then served as the Garrison Commander of Fort McNair, Washington D.C., and Fort Myer, Virginia, and served as the Army’s Liaison Officer to the United States Senate.

LTG Richardson’s assignments as a general officer include Commanding General of the U.S. Army Operational Test Command; Deputy Commanding General of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas; Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications with Headquarters, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan; and most recently at the Pentagon as Chief, Army Legislative Liaison. She is married to Major General Jim Richardson, and they have one daughter.