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Lori Robinson
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<h2 id="military-career">Military career</h2> <p>Robinson entered the <a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">United States Air Force</a> in 1982 through the <a href="/facts/Reserve_Officers%27_Training_Corps/LIq549By">Reserve Officers' Training Corps</a> program at the <a href="/facts/University_of_New_Hampshire/RDqRkwTA">University of New Hampshire</a>. She served in a variety of positions as an <a href="/facts/Air_Battle_Manager/jAKnl2zW">Air Battle Manager</a>, including instructor and commander of the Command and Control Operations Division at the <a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force_Weapons_School/oPlvKEXK">United States Air Force Weapons School</a>, as well as Chief of Tactics in the 965th Airborne Warning and Control Squadron. She held staff assignments as command briefer at Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, deputy chief of staff and executive assistant to the director at the Defense Information Systems Agency, and executive officer to the commander of <a href="/facts/Air_Combat_Command/TIe3UPfs">Air Combat Command</a>. </p><p>Robinson commanded an operations group, a training wing, and an air control wing. She also deployed as vice commander of the <a href="/facts/405th_Air_Expeditionary_Wing/InwyTbmR">405th Air Expeditionary Wing</a>, leading more than 2,000 airmen flying <a href="/facts/B-1_Lancer/K2I9IkJc">B-1 Lancer</a>, <a href="/facts/KC-135_Stratotanker/hRmEJPJv">KC-135 Stratotanker</a> and <a href="/facts/E-3_Sentry/pdIfIP9b">E-3 Sentry</a> aircraft in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Robinson was an Air Force Fellow at The Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., and has served at the Pentagon as director of the Secretary of the Air Force and chief of staff of the Air Force Executive Action Group. She was also deputy director for force application and support, Directorate of Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Following this, Robinson was director, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., and the vice commander, Air Combat Command, <a href="/facts/Langley_Air_Force_Base/l2tVX8mY">Langley Air Force Base</a>, Virginia.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p><p>On September 21, 2007, Robinson made history when she became the first air battle manager and first woman 552nd ACW commander to be <a href="/facts/Frocking/yI3VuQwf">frocked</a> to brigadier general while stationed at <a href="/facts/Tinker_Air_Force_Base/uW3LFF6g">Tinker Air Force Base</a>, Oklahoma.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p><p>In 2014 Robinson was chosen to be commander of the Pacific Air Forces in Hawaii, making her the first United States female four-star commander of combat forces.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> On May 13, 2016, she became the commanding general of <a href="/facts/United_States_Northern_Command/4eeakmJS">United States Northern Command</a> and was the first woman to command a <a href="/facts/Unified_combatant_command/GhMUXheg">unified combatant command</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> On May 24, 2018, General Robinson transferred command of NORAD and NORTHCOM to General <a href="/facts/Terrence_J._O%27Shaughnessy/Qvbe7Y8X">Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> Robinson retired from the Air Force on June 7, 2018.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="personal-life">Personal life</h2> <p>Robinson is married to retired Air Force Major General <a href="/facts/David_A._Robinson/hq9bxzMR">David A. Robinson</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p><p>Robinson's stepdaughter, <a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force_Reserve/ntaKUU2X">United States Air Force Reserve</a> Second Lieutenant Taryn Ashley Robinson (b. February 1, 1983), was critically injured, and her civilian flight instructor James Weaver was killed, when their plane impacted terrain on September 21, 2005. Lieutenant Robinson later succumbed to her injuries and died on January 10, 2006.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> Lieutenant Robinson was an <a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force_Academy/LhmgXJ7b">Air Force Academy</a> graduate (Class of 2005), as was Weaver (Class of 1963). </p> <h2 id="education">Education</h2> <ul><li>1981 Bachelor of Arts in English, <a href="/facts/University_of_New_Hampshire/RDqRkwTA">University of New Hampshire</a>, Durham, New Hampshire</li> <li>1986 <a href="/facts/Squadron_Officer_School/wDLwCQRP">Squadron Officer School</a>, Maxwell AFB, Alabama</li> <li>1986 <a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force_Fighter_Weapons_School/oPlvKEXK">United States Air Force Fighter Weapons School</a>, distinguished graduate, Nellis AFB, Nevada</li> <li>1992 Master of Arts in education leadership and management, <a href="/facts/Troy_State_University/22yFzAht">Troy State University</a>, Troy, Alabama</li> <li>1995 Master's degree in national security and strategic studies, College of Naval Command and Staff, <a href="/facts/Naval_War_College/hV5xY5Rv">Naval War College</a>, Newport, R.I.</li> <li>2001 <a href="/facts/Air_War_College/7rd8gLRC">Air War College</a>, by correspondence</li> <li>2002 Air Force Fellow, The Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.</li> <li>2005 Senior Executive Fellows Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts</li></ul> <h2 id="assignments">Assignments</h2> <ol><li>January 1982 – June 1982, student, Basic Air Weapons Controller School, Tyndall AFB, Fla.</li> <li>June 1982 – January 1983, air weapons controller, Homestead AFB, Fla.</li> <li>January 1983 – January 1985, instructor air weapons controller and live-fire senior director, 81st Range Control Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.</li> <li>January 1985 – February 1986, Chief of Training; and Chief of Standards and Evaluations, 848th Air Control and Weapons Squadron, Wallace Air Station, the Philippines</li> <li>February 1986 – September 1986, air weapons controller, Air Weapons Controller Division, USAF Fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.</li> <li>September 1986 – December 1986, student, USAF Fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.</li> <li>December 1986 – October 1989, instructor and course manager, Air Weapon Control Division, USAF Fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.</li> <li>October 1989 – August 1992, Chief of Current Operations and command briefer, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii</li> <li>August 1992 – May 1993, air weapons controller, 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker AFB, Okla.</li> <li>June 1993 – June 1994, Chief, Weapons and Tactics Branch, 965th Airborne Warning and Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.</li> <li>July 1994 – June 1995, student, College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.</li> <li>June 1995 – September 1995, student, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.</li> <li>September 1995 – December 1997, command, control and communication officer, deputy chief of staff, and executive assistant to the director, Defense Information Systems Agency, Arlington, Va.</li> <li>December 1997 – June 1998, student, mission crew commander training, Nellis AFB, Nev.</li> <li>June 1998 – February 2000, commander, Command and Control Operations Division, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.</li> <li>February 2000 – July 2001, executive officer to the commander, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.</li> <li>July 2001 – June 2002, Air Force Fellow, The Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.</li> <li>June 2002 – August 2004, commander, 552nd Operations Group, Tinker AFB, Okla. (March 2003 – May 2003, vice commander, 405th Air Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia)</li> <li>August 2004 – August 2005, commander, 17th Training Wing, Goodfellow AFB, Texas</li> <li>August 2005 – September 2006, director, Secretary of the Air Force and chief of staff of the Air Force Executive Action Group, Washington, D.C.</li> <li>September 2006 – May 2007, Chief, Air Force House Liaison Office, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.</li> <li>May 2007 – August 2008, commander, 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker AFB, Okla.</li> <li>September 2008 – October 2010, deputy director for Force Application and Support, Directorate of Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.</li> <li>October 2010 – June 2012, director, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.</li> <li>June 2012 – April 2013, deputy commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command; deputy, Combined Force Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command, Southwest Asia.</li> <li>May 2013 – October 2014, vice commander, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va</li> <li>October 2014 – May 2016, commander, Pacific Air Forces; Air Component Commander for U.S. Pacific Command; and executive director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff, Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii</li> <li>May 2016 – May 2018, commander, USNORTHCOM; commander, NORAD<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a></li></ol> <h2 id="flight-experience">Flight experience</h2> <ul><li>Rating: Senior Air Battle Manager</li> <li>Flight hours: more than 900</li> <li>Aircraft: <a href="/facts/Boeing_E-3_Sentry/pdIfIP9b">E-3B/C and E-8C</a></li></ul> <h2 id="awards-and-decorations">Awards and decorations</h2> <table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table> <table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"> </td></tr></tbody></table> <table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3">Senior <a href="/facts/Air_Battle_Manager_Badge/C0jtgaw4">Air Battle Manager Badge</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">Master <a href="/facts/Weapons_Director_Badge/DSxm5H5y">Weapons Director Badge</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Defense_Distinguished_Service_Medal/N3GqyVjA">Defense Distinguished Service Medal</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Air_Force_Distinguished_Service_Medal/DYWFdLvE">Air Force Distinguished Service Medal</a> with two bronze <a href="/facts/Oak_leaf_cluster/BDuwAx5J">oak leaf clusters</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Defense_Superior_Service_Medal/D6ISn8HT">Defense Superior Service Medal</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Legion_of_Merit/oWMILHmb">Legion of Merit</a> with two bronze oak leaf clusters</td><td><a href="/facts/Bronze_Star_Medal/u8rXrlDa">Bronze Star Medal</a> with one bronze oak leaf cluster</td><td><a href="/facts/Defense_Meritorious_Service_Medal/Qp7MmWNE">Defense Meritorious Service Medal</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Meritorious_Service_Medal_(United_States)/0CnYnLB1">Meritorious Service Medal</a> with three bronze oak leaf clusters</td><td><a href="/facts/Aerial_Achievement_Medal/5rfVV1nT">Aerial Achievement Medal</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Air_Force_Commendation_Medal/vjWbBFjV">Air Force Commendation Medal</a> with two bronze oak leaf clusters</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Air_Force_Achievement_Medal/RuNrWTk3">Air Force Achievement Medal</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Joint_Meritorious_Unit_Award/a2syE8yk">Joint Meritorious Unit Award</a> with one bronze oak leaf cluster</td><td><a href="/facts/Air_Force_Meritorious_Unit_Award/7srfk5wD">Air Force Meritorious Unit Award</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Outstanding_Unit_Award/z9MpUQ94">Air Force Outstanding Unit Award</a> with <a href="/facts/%22V%22_Device/tYb3x4VB">"V" Device</a> and one silver and one bronze oak leaf clusters</td><td><a href="/facts/Organizational_Excellence_Award/um6d0gfD">Air Force Organizational Excellence Award</a> with two bronze oak leaf clusters</td><td><a href="/facts/National_Defense_Service_Medal/Gj4kUfzt">National Defense Service Medal</a> with one bronze <a href="/facts/Service_star/kAksj8Mg">service star</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Southwest_Asia_Service_Medal/R2cv37Yu">Southwest Asia Service Medal</a> with one bronze <a href="/facts/Service_star/kAksj8Mg">campaign star</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Afghanistan_Campaign_Medal/hIo9ppvT">Afghanistan Campaign Medal</a> with one bronze campaign star</td><td><a href="/facts/Global_War_on_Terrorism_Expeditionary_Medal/wG34rxUk">Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Global_War_on_Terrorism_Service_Medal/RnSXJ6BL">Global War on Terrorism Service Medal</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Overseas_Service_Ribbon/n5AeS1Vf">Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon</a> with one bronze oak leaf cluster</td><td><a href="/facts/Overseas_Service_Ribbon/n5AeS1Vf">Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon</a> with one bronze oak leaf cluster</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Air_Force_Expeditionary_Service_Ribbon/ec8Rv2Fh">Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon</a> with <a href="/facts/Gold_frame/qGpvRvgB">gold frame</a> and one bronze oak leaf cluster</td><td><a href="/facts/Air_Force_Longevity_Service_Award/wbqBWjE9">Air Force Longevity Service Award</a> with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters</td><td><a href="/facts/Marksmanship_Ribbon/yxAPa3DF">Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Air_Force_Training_Ribbon/nhgdvI8Q">Air Force Training Ribbon</a></td><td>Canada <a href="/facts/Meritorious_Service_Cross/d9V26gh0">Meritorious Service Cross</a>, Military Division</td><td><a href="/facts/Kuwait_Liberation_Medal_(Kuwait)/pybAQ08h">Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"><a href="/facts/North_American_Aerospace_Defense_Command/uQgYBjz4">North American Aerospace Defense Command Badge</a> | <a href="/facts/United_States_Northern_Command/4eeakmJS">United States Northern Command Badge</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="effective-dates-of-promotion">Effective dates of promotion</h2> <ul><li> Second Lieutenant May 24, 1981</li> <li> First Lieutenant September 11, 1983</li> <li> Captain September 11, 1985</li> <li> Major January 1, 1994</li> <li> Lieutenant Colonel July 1, 1998</li> <li> Colonel August 1, 2002</li> <li> Brigadier General July 22, 2008</li> <li> Major General May, 2011</li> <li> Lieutenant General May 20, 2013</li> <li> General October 16, 2014</li></ul> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul> <li>Biography portal</li><li>United States portal</li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/facts/List_of_female_United_States_military_generals_and_flag_officers/vgp1D9ng">List of female United States military generals and flag officers</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_United_States_Air_Force_lieutenant_generals_from_2010_to_2019/2VpDsNDd">List of United States Air Force lieutenant generals from 2010 to 2019</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Timeline_of_women_in_warfare_and_the_military_in_the_United_States_from_2011%E2%80%93present/n7MCnL4l">Timeline of women in warfare and the military in the United States from 2011–present</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_American_women%27s_firsts/KYcVMRp2">List of American women's firsts</a></li></ul> <ul><li> This article incorporates <a href="/facts/Copyright_status_of_works_by_the_federal_government_of_the_United_States/Q1jvr96g">public domain material</a> from <a href="http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/108119/general-lori-j-robinson.aspx"><i>Biographies: General Lori J. Robinson"</i></a>. <a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">United States Air Force</a>.</li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lori J. Robinson. <ul><li><a href="https://www.c-span.org/person/?101770">Appearances</a> on <a href="/facts/C-SPAN/MdgMU5eM">C-SPAN</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Carter Names First Female Combatant Commander". U.S. Department of Defense. 18 March 2016. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160325024749/http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/697602/carter-names-first-female-combatant-commander" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20160325024749/http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/697602/carter-names-first-female-combatant-commander</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Time 100 Leaders Lori Robinson Time Magazine, April 2016 <a href="http://time.com/4301351/lori-robinson-2016-time-100/" target="_blank">http://time.com/4301351/lori-robinson-2016-time-100/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"GENERAL LORI J. ROBINSON". af.mil. Retrieved 30 April 2016. <a href="https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108119/lori-j-robinson/" target="_blank">https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108119/lori-j-robinson/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Shining Star: First woman 552nd ACW commander frocked to brigadier general". af.mil. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016. <a href="https://www.tinker.af.mil/News/story_print/id/123069737/" target="_blank">https://www.tinker.af.mil/News/story_print/id/123069737/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"First Woman, Non-Pilot, Nominated for U.S. Air Force Command in Pacific". Headlines & Global News. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2016. <a href="http://www.hngn.com/articles/36536/20140718/first-woman-non-pilot-nominate-for-command-of-u-s-air-force-in-pacific.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hngn.com/articles/36536/20140718/first-woman-non-pilot-nominate-for-command-of-u-s-air-force-in-pacific.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"ACC, PACAF commanders confirmed". Archived from the original on 2014-10-11. Retrieved 2014-10-06. <a href="https://www.acc.af.mil/News/story/id/123419170/" target="_blank">https://www.acc.af.mil/News/story/id/123419170/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"GENERAL LORI J. ROBINSON". af.mil. Retrieved 30 April 2016. <a href="https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108119/lori-j-robinson/" target="_blank">https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108119/lori-j-robinson/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Gordinier, John (May 24, 2018). "Gen. O'Shaughnessy assumes command of NORAD, USNORTHCOM". United States Air Force. Retrieved May 24, 2018. <a href="http://www.northcom.mil/Newsroom/Article/1531758/gen-oshaughnessy-assumes-command-of-norad-usnorthcom/" target="_blank">http://www.northcom.mil/Newsroom/Article/1531758/gen-oshaughnessy-assumes-command-of-norad-usnorthcom/</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Eastman, Tom (7 June 2018). "The sky was the limit: Gen. Lori Robinson retires from Air Force". The Conway Daily Sun. <a href="https://www.conwaydailysun.com/news/local/the-sky-was-the-limit-gen-lori-robinson-retires-from/article_212c3fc4-69bf-11e8-bc51-4ffe0422689f.html" target="_blank">https://www.conwaydailysun.com/news/local/the-sky-was-the-limit-gen-lori-robinson-retires-from/article_212c3fc4-69bf-11e8-bc51-4ffe0422689f.html</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Robinson, Lori J." capstone.ndu.edu. Retrieved 2023-01-19. <a href="https://capstone.ndu.edu/Senior-Fellows/Article-View/Article/1756172/robinson-lori-j/" target="_blank">https://capstone.ndu.edu/Senior-Fellows/Article-View/Article/1756172/robinson-lori-j/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"Taryn Ashley Robinson, Second Lieutenant, United States Air Force". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved 30 April 2016. <a href="http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/tarobinson.htm" target="_blank">http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/tarobinson.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"GENERAL LORI J. ROBINSON". af.mil. Retrieved 30 April 2016. <a href="https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108119/lori-j-robinson/" target="_blank">https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108119/lori-j-robinson/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Gordinier, John (May 24, 2018). "Gen. O'Shaughnessy assumes command of NORAD, USNORTHCOM". United States Air Force. Retrieved May 24, 2018. <a href="http://www.northcom.mil/Newsroom/Article/1531758/gen-oshaughnessy-assumes-command-of-norad-usnorthcom/" target="_blank">http://www.northcom.mil/Newsroom/Article/1531758/gen-oshaughnessy-assumes-command-of-norad-usnorthcom/</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>