MILITARY NEWS
Retired
• Army Brig. Gen. Paul J. Laughlin, a former Kingston resident, retired from the service.
Before he retired, Laughlin led the Office of the Program Manager-Saudi Arabian National Guard. He was in charge of US efforts to help the Saudi Arabia modernize its National Guard.
Shortly before he retired, he received Saudi Arabia’s highest award for foreign military servicemen, the King Abdulaziz Medal. The medal was presented in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh by Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, the minister of the Saudi Arabian National Guard, on behalf of King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
Laughlin said in a press release that he was humbled by the recognition and gave credit of the medal to the entire OPM-SANG team. “I very much appreciate his Royal Highness for allowing our colonels and senior civilians to be present as they do all the real work and this award is a reflection of their dedicated efforts,” he said.
A native of Pittsburgh who was raised in Kingston, Laughlin graduated from Springfield College in Massachusetts.
His military education includes the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, and a master’s degree from the National War College. He also holds a master’s degree from Central Michigan University.
Laughlin’s first assignment was at Fort Hood in 1986, where he served as a tank platoon leader, support platoon leader and battalion adjutant, with the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment. Next, he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment at Bamberg, Germany as the S3 Air and deployed to Operation Desert Storm/Shield. He then commanded D Company, 1st Battalion, 37th Armor
Regiment 1st AD, and then served with 3rd Brigade 3rd ID as the brigade’s Chief of Plans and commanded the Headquarter and Heqdquarters Company in Vilseck, Germany.
Following this, he served as an Office of the Secretary of Defense intern and then as an Armor Branch Assignment Officer in Washington D.C. He then served as the I Corps Field Grade Manager at Fort Lewis in Washington before deploying to serve as the military advisor and liaison from 1st Cavalry Division to the Office of High Representative in Brcko, Bosnia during Operation Joint Endeavor. Later, he served as battalion executive officer for 1st Battalion, 32nd Armor Regiment and then as the brigade S3 for 3rd Brigade, 2nd ID (the initial Stryker Brigade for the Army) at Fort Lewis.
He was then assigned to the
National Training Center at Fort Irwin in California and served as the Operations Group chief of plans. Laughlin then commanded 1st Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment at Camp Casey in South Korea, followed by duty as the 2nd ID G3 at Camp Red Cloud in South Korea.
Following this, he served as the Armor Branch chief in Washington, D.C., prior to becoming the 63rd Regimental Commander for 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Irwin in California. Following regimental command, he deployed to Afghanistan and served as the senior military advisor for the Afghanistan minister of Defense during Operation Enduring Freedom. He then served as the executive officer for the commanding general of U.S. Army Europe in Heidelberg, Germany. After that, he served as the 47th commandant of the US Army Armor School and Chief of Armor. He then returned to South Korea and served as the 2nd ID deputy commanding general (Maneuver).
Laughlin’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. He also received the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two campaign stars, the Afghan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, and the NATO Service Medal. Additionally, received the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge.