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Eileen Laubacher is a retired two-star U.S. Navy Rear Admiral [1] [2] who served on the National Security Council under President Joe Biden. [3] [4] [5]
In the 2026 mid-term elections, Laubacher is running as a Democrat to face U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert in Colorado's 4th congressional district. [6]
As a child, Eileen Haskins aspired to be in the US Navy, having been influenced and inspired by family member involvement in it: her father, Michael Haskins [7] served in the navy for 37 years, [8] retiring as a vice admiral, [7] and her grandfather served in the navy during World War II. [8]
When she entered the U.S. Naval Academy, her father swore her in as a midshipman. [7] She graduated from the Naval Academy (as did her father, in 1966) [7] and was commissioned in 1990, [8] having earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. She later earned her Joint Professional Military Education from the Air University’s Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base. [1]
Laubacher served in the US Navy for 34 years. [9] Her first assignment was as an oceanographic watch officer and current operations officer in the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System at Naval Facility Bermuda. She then served as an intelligence collection manager at the Defense Intelligence Agency in Clarendon, Virginia, where she was re-designated as a Navy intelligence officer. Following graduation from Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center, Dam Neck, Virginia, Laubacher was the imagery collection manager at Joint Analysis Center, Molesworth, UK. She then served as the Visitor Liaison and Protocol Officer at Headquarters, U.S. Naval Forces Europe.
Laubacher joined the US Navy Reserve in 1998. She later served in U.S. Space Command, U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Pacific Command, in billets including MASINT Special Project Branch chief and executive officer.
In 2009, Laubacher served in a Special Operations Joint Task Force in Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom as the officer in charge of the Operational Coordination Group.
Laubacher’s command tours include Navy Reserve (NR) Office of Naval Intelligence 0466, Suitland, Maryland; NR Strategic Command Intelligence, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, where she also served as the director, Joint Reserve Intelligence Support Element Offutt; and Naval Information Force Reserve Region Washington District of Columbia, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
From 2019 to 2022, Laubacher served as the Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché to India, based in New Delhi. [10] Upon returning to the United States, she served as a Special Assistant to the President and senior director for South Asia — National Security. [1] [11] [4] [12]
Laubacher's awards and honors include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal (four awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal (four awards), Navy Achievement Medal (two awards) and various service, expeditionary, unit and campaign awards. [1]
In May 2025, Laubacher announced that she would seek to represent Colorado's 4th congressional district in the 2026 election as a Democrat. [13] Laubacher raised $1.9 million in her first 54 days as a candidate, beating the fundraising record previously set by Adam Frisch in 2023. [14] [15]
Laubacher and her husband Chris [16] relocated to Colorado after she left active duty and joined the Navy Reserve. [8] Their five children were mostly homeschooled by Chris, [16] but at least some also attended public high school. [8] Eileen and Chris, who reside in Littleton, Colorado, [9] have three grandchildren. [8]