FGS Global, the world’s leading stakeholder strategy firm, today announced the appointment of General Laura J. Richardson, U.S. Army (Ret.) as Senior Advisor. General Richardson joins FGS Global following a highly distinguished career spanning almost four decades in the U.S. Army, where she most recently served as the commander of the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM).
Over her 38 year career, General (Ret.) Richardson has commanded from the Company to Combatant Command level, the highest command level in the Department of Defense (DOD), and she served as the Army’s first woman combat arms general officer.
As Commander of USSOUTHCOM, one of the six DOD geographic warfighting combatant commands, she worked directly for the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense from 2021 to 2024. In this position she was responsible for all military operations, contingency planning and partnerships across South and Central America, and the Caribbean, which included 31 countries, to promote regional stability, keep America safe, strengthen governance, counter illicit trafficking, and support disaster preparedness and response efforts.
Prior to taking command of USSOUTHCOM, she served as the Commanding General of U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) which is the Army Service Component Command for U.S. Northern Command. She commanded an Assault Helicopter Battalion in combat in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) 2003-04, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployed to Afghanistan as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Headquarters International Security Assistance Force in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She has also served as the Military Aide to the Vice President at the White House in Washington, D.C., and the Army’s Legislative Liaison to Congress at the U.S. Capitol.
General Richardson is a graduate of Metropolitan State University of Denver and holds a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University’s Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.
"General Richardson’s track record of leadership in the most complex and high-stakes environments is unparalleled,” said Michael Feldman, Partner and North America Co-Chairman. “Her depth of experience and strategic insights will be invaluable to our clients as they confront the challenges of an increasingly complex landscape. We are proud to welcome her to the FGS Global team."
For more information about Gen. Richardson’s role at FGS Global or to learn more about our policy advisory services, please contact Capricia Marshall, Partner in Washington, DC.
About FGS Global
FGS Global is the world’s leading stakeholder strategy firm, with approximately 1,400 professionals around the world, advising clients in navigating complex stakeholder situations and reputational challenges. FGS Global was formed from the combination of Finsbury, The Glover Park Group, Hering Schuppener and Sard Verbinnen & Co, and offers board-level and C-suite counsel in all aspects of strategic communications—including corporate reputation, crisis management, and public affairs. The firm is consistently ranked a Band 1 PR firm for Crisis & Risk Management and for Litigation Support by Chambers and Partners and was ranked #1 Global M&A PR firm by Deal Count and Value in 2024 by Mergermarket.
FGS Global offers seamless and integrated support with offices in Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Boston, Brussels, Calgary, Chicago, Dubai, Dublin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Houston, Kingston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, Paris, Riyadh, San Francisco, Shanghai, Singapore, The Hague, Tokyo, Toronto, Washington, D.C., South Florida, Vancouver, and Zurich. The firm is headquartered in New York.
Contact: Capricia Marshall, Partner, FGS Global Capricia.Marshall@fgsglobal.com