Manpower & Reserve Affairs

Colonel Lauren S. Edwards currently serves as the Director, Manpower Plans and Policy Division, Manpower and Reserve Affairs.

Upon graduation from The George Washington University, Colonel Edwards attended Officer Candidate School. She graduated as the platoon honor graduate and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in August 1998.

Colonel Edwards had the honor of commanding at many additional levels. She has served as Platoon Commander, Company N, The Basic School, Platoon Commander, 9th Engineer Support Battalion; Commanding Officer, Combat Service Support Detachment-35 (Philippines); Engineer Detachment Commander, MEU Service Support Group-31, 31st MEU; Engineer Operations Company Commander, Marine Wing Support Squadron-371; Commanding Officer, Company B, 8th Engineer Support Battalion; Engineer Company Commander, Combat Logistics Battalion-6; Commanding Officer, Recruiting Station Charleston, West Virginia; Commanding Officer, 8th Engineer Support Battalion; and Commanding Officer, Combat Logistics Regiment 27.

Colonel Edwards's staff assignments include: Executive Officer, Company A, 9th Engineer Support Battalion; Operations Officer, 8th Engineer Support Battalion; Operations Officer and Engineer Officer, Combat Logistics Regiment-2; Information Operations Officer, I Marine Expeditionary Force; and Senior Military Advisor to the Secretary of the Navy. For her joint tour, she served as Military Assistant to both the Deputy Under and Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense.

In the supporting establishment, Colonel Edwards served as: company grade assignment officer in Manpower and Reserve Affairs; academics instructor, Officer Candidate School; and the MAGTF Integration Branch Head, Programs & Resources, HQMC.

Colonel Edwards deployed in 2003 and again in 2008 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2009-2010, she deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Colonel Edwards is a graduate of The Basic School, Combat Engineer Officer's Course (honor graduate and leadership award recipient), Tactical Logistics Officer Course, and Expeditionary Warfare School (with honors). She holds a B.A. in Radio and Television Production/Electronic Media from The George Washington University (magna cum laude), an M.A. in Leadership Studies from Marshall University, an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College (with distinction), an M.S. in National Security Strategy from the National War College, and a certificate of completion from the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

She is the recipient of the Navy League's 2010 Captain Winifred Quick Collins Award for Inspirational Leadership, a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, and is a Kentucky Colonel. Her personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with gold star in lieu of second award, the Meritorious Service Medal with four stars in lieu of fifth award, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with the Combat "V" device and three stars in lieu of fourth award, the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award, and the Combat Action Ribbon.