Colonel Frank S. Laras serves as the Commandant, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Operations School, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. He leads a total force team that prepares more than 60,000 mission-ready Airmen each year for global operations. Under his leadership, the EOS unifies expeditionary training and exercises, creating a warfighter development model that spans from individual advanced skills through large-scale mission rehearsals. He provides strategic direction for more than 400 personnel across six geographic locations, three combat training squadrons and two training squadrons, as well as the Academic Affairs and Mission Support Directorates charged with "Forging the Warfighter," from the flightline to the frontline - delivering airpower from the ground up.
Colonel Laras commissioned through Officer Training School in 2004. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and is a Distinguished Graduate of four USAF aviation programs. His previous assignments include evaluator and weapons officer instructor duties in the C-130E/H. He has served in a variety of key leadership roles ranging from the squadron level to the command staff. Colonel Laras' operational experience ranges across multiple theaters to include operations within Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, Freedom's Sentinel, Resolute Support, Allies Refuge, Allies Welcome, Southern Spear, and Epic Fury.
He served as the Commander, 65th Air Base Squadron, Lajes Field, Portugal, where he was responsible for developing Multi-Capable Airmen providing a mid-Atlantic strategic power projection platform for the United States and supported Allied forces through a bilateral partnership with the Portuguese Air Force. Prior to his current assignment, he was the chief of the NORAD and USNORTHCOM J43 Logistics Operations Division, where he served as the senior mobility officer to the combatant commander providing strategic leadership for the deployment, distribution, and sustainment of forces in support of homeland defense, theater security cooperations, and civil support operations.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science Degree in Micro & Molecular Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando FL.
2009 Air Force Advanced Instrument School (AIS), Oklahoma City, OK.
2009 Squadron Officer School, (BDE - Residence/Non-Residence), Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2013 United States Air Force Weapons School (WIC), Little Rock Air Force Base, AR.
2013 Master's Degree in Public Health - Epidemiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. (Academic Honors)
2016 Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course, Yokota Air Base, Japan
2018 Master's Degree in Operational Management, Air Force Institute of Technology (IDE - In-Residence, Advanced Study of Air Mobility Fellowship), Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ. (Academic Honors)
2019 USAF Leadership Development Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL.
2020 Air War College (SDE - Non-Residence), Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2023 Joint Forces Staff College, (JPME II - In-Residence), National Defense University, Norfolk Naval Air Station, Suffolk, VA.
2025 Master's Degree in Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, (SDE - Non-Residence), Carlisle Barracks, PA. (Superior Graduate)
2026 Director of Mobility Forces (DM4) Course, Hurlburt Field, FL.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Sept. 2004 - Sept. 2005, Student, Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, 562 FTS, Joint Base San Antonio Randolph, Texas
2. Sept. 2005 - June 2006, Student, C-130 Formal Navigator Training, 53d Airlift Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base, AR.
3. June 2006 - Nov. 2010, Assistant, Chief of Tactics & Chief Nav Stan/Eval, 37th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
4. July 2010 - Aug. 2013, OG Director of Staff & Wing Tactics, 440th Operations group & 440th Operations Support Squadron, Pope Army Airfield, NC.
5. Jan. 2013 - June 2013, Student, United States Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Little Rock Air Force Base, AR.
6. Aug. 2013 - Aug 2015, Chief Wing Tactics & Chief Assistant Director of Operations, 302d Operations Group & 52d Airlift Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, CO.
7. Aug. 2015 - May 2017, Chief Wing Tactics & Chief Wing Plans/Programs, 374th Operations Support Squadron & 347th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan
8. May 2017 - June 2018, Student, Advanced Study of Air Mobility Fellowship (Intermediate Developmental Education), Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ.
9. June 2018 - May 2020, Command Test Manager & Chief, Mobility Test Management Division, Test & Evaluation Directorate, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, IL.
10. June 2020 - July 2021, Commander, 65th Air Base Squadron, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal
11. July 2021 - Sept. 2023, Chief, Commander's Action Group, United States Air Force Expeditionary Center, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ.
12. Sept. 2023 - June 2026, Chief, Logistics Operations Division/J4 Directorate of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), Peterson Space Force Base, CO.
13. June 2026 - Present, Commandant, USAF Expeditionary Operations School, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. Sept. 2023 - June 2026, Chief, Logistics Operations Division/J4 Directorate North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), Peterson Space Force Base, CO.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight Hours: 2,637 (736 combat)
Aircraft Flown: C-130 E/H1/H2/H3/J, T-1, and T-43
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
2014 Air Mobility Command Flying Instructor of the Year Award
2016 United States Air Force General Robert "Dutch" Huyser Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant September 24, 2004
First Lieutenant September 24, 2006
Captain September 24, 2008
Major March 1, 2015
Lieutenant Colonel August 1, 2019
Colonel July 1, 2025
(Current as of July 2026)