Commander Kristen N. Laroux

Commanding Officer, Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131

08 November 2021 CDR Laroux hails from Grafton, Massachusetts.  In 2004, she graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering and was commissioned through NROTC at the College of the Holy Cross.  In April 2006, she was designated a Naval Flight Officer at NAS Pensacola, FL.  
In June 2007, CDR Laroux reported to the Scorpions of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 132, stationed at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington as an EA-6B Prowler Electronic Countermeasures Officer.  She was immediately forward deployed to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
In 2009, she was among the first aircrew to transition and redeploy with VAQ-132 as an EA-18G Growler Electronic Warfare Officer to Al Asad, Iraq in support of Operation NEW DAWN, and Aviano Air Base, Italy in support of Operations ODYSSEY DAWN and UNIFIED PROTECTOR.
In September 2010, CDR Laroux reported to the Airborne Electronic Attack Weapons School (HAVOC) at the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center in Fallon, NV and earned her Growler Tactics Instructor (GTI) designation.  She remained on HAVOC staff as a Weapons and Tactics Instructor, school house Standardization Officer and Airwing Fallon Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) Instructor, training various fleet carrier airwings in combat operations.  Concurrently, she earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University.
Following her weapons school assignment, CDR Laroux served as the VAQ-139 Cougars Training Officer and deployed aboard the USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, various Joint exercises throughout PACOM and extended 5th Fleet operations.
In August 2015, CDR Laroux reported to the VAQ-131 Lancers where she served as the head of the Maintenance and Operations departments while deployed in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE onboard the USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH (CVN 77).
Following her Department Head tour, CDR Laroux reported to the Pentagon, Washington, DC as the Executive Assistant to the Director, Joint Staff J6, providing Joint Force Command, Control, Communications and Computers/Cyber (C4) guidance and strategies to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In July 2020, she assumed duty as the Executive Officer of VAQ-131 at Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan while on the Lancers’ first EA-18G expeditionary deployment to the U.S. Indo-Pacific area of responsibility.  CDR Laroux assumed Command in October 2021.
CDR Laroux has amassed more than 2,800 operational flight hours, to include more than 2,000 EA-18G Growler hours, and 175 combat sorties.  Her personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal Strike Flight (8 awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2 awards) and various unit, service and campaign awards.