Colonel Laura G. Persing is the Deputy Commander of the 633d Air Base Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. She was born and raised in Montgomery County, Maryland. In 1996, she enlisted in the Maryland Army National Guard as a 27D (Legal Specialist). In 2002, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from Towson University and received an Active Duty Commission as a Transportation Officer through the Loyola College ROTC Program.
Upon completion of the Transportation Officer Basic Course, she was assigned as a Platoon Leader in the 372nd Cargo Transfer Company, 106th Transportation Battalion at Fort Campbell, Kentucky (101st Airborne Division). Following this assignment, she served as the Support Operations Transportation Officer and the Battalion S1 for the 129th CSSB (101st Airborne Division). While assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, Colonel Hutchinson deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and 2005.
Following the completion of the Logistics Captain’s Career Course, Colonel Persing was assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum where she served as the Battalion Rear Detachment Commander for the 10th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB). In 2009, she assumed command of A Company, 10th BSB and deployed to Afghanistan where she also served as the Battalion S3.
In 2011, Colonel Persing served as the Deputy Chief of Plans and Operations at the Defense Logistics Agency-Energy and earned a Master’s of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership from Norwich University. In 2013 she attended the Marine Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia where she earned a Master’s of Science Degree in Military Studies.
In 2014, Colonel Persing was assigned to 2nd Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington where she served as the Brigade S4 and the Support Operations Officer. From 2016-2018, she served in the Commander’s Initiatives Group and was the Secretary of the General Staff for the Commanding General of I Corps.
From 2018 to 2020, Colonel Persing served as the Commander of the 526th Brigade Support Battalion in the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). In September 2020, she served as the Rear Provisional Brigade Commander for the 101st Division Sustainment Brigade in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). In 2022, she graduated from the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy at Fort McNair, Washington D.C. where she earned a Master’s of Science Degree in National Security Strategy and Policy. Following graduation, she was assigned to the joint staff where she served as the Chief of Future Operations in the Joint Logistics Directorate and as a Special Assistant and Transition Officer to the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
From June 2024 to June 2026, Colonel Persing was the 733d Mission Support Group Commander where she led 1100+ personnel in four squadrons that provided installation support, base operations and quality of life programs to the Fort Eustis community consisting of 20,000+ Service Members, DoW Civilians and Family Members.
Colonel Persing’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air and Space Commendation Medal, the Order of Saint Christopher, the Order of Saint Maurice, and the Air Assault and Combat Action Badges. Colonel Persing is married and has two children.