Lt. Col. Edwards was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. on Aug. 14, 1998 and finished as a honor graduate at the Combat Engineer Officer’s Course.
While deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, she served as the Marine Wing Support Squadron-371, Marine Wing Support Group-37, 3d Marine Air Wing Commanding Officer, Engineer Operations Company from August 2001 to July 2003.
In 2003, during the invasion of Iraq, she led a convoy of more than 150 combat engineer Marines in her company while under attack. She was then awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with a Combat ‘V’ for her admirable actions as a forward arming and refueling point team commander.
Lt. Col. Lauren Edwards also made Marine Corps history when she took command of the 8th Engineer Support Battalion at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune on November 30th, 2015. She became the first female commanding officer of an Engineer Support Battalion – which provide engineer support to II Marine Expeditionary Forces.
“My charge now is to serve as a positive example of leadership and professionalism to men and women alike,” said Edwards. “I’m extraordinarily proud to take command of 8th ESB today, and I hope that all Marines and sailors in this battalion recognize that if they work hard and look out for each other they can accomplish whatever they set their minds to.” –Lt.Col Lauren Edwards
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