Colonel B. Richard Laaken was commissioned a Medical Corps Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School in November of 1962. His first duty assignment was as Medical Supply Officer, 324th Medical Depot, U.S. Army Reserve, Chester, Pennsylvania. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Medical Supply Officer, 324th Medical Depot, Chester, Pennsylvania; Medical Staff Officer, Member of Command Inspection Team, 69th Artillery, U.S. Army Europe, Wurzburg, Germany; Adjutant, 48th Medical Battalion, 2d Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas; Commander, Company B, 48th Medical Battalion, 2d Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas; Assistant G-4, 2d Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas; Special Projects Officer, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas; S-2/3, Dustoff Control and Medical Civic Action Program Officer, 25th Medical Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, Vietnam; Executive Officer, 46th Medical Battalion, 4th Armored Division, U.S. Army Europe, Erlangen, Germany; Brigade Plans and Operations Officer, 7th Medical Brigade, U.S. Army Europe, Ludwigsburg, Germany;  Author-Instructor, Army Medical Department Special Representative, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Operations Staff Officer, Officer of the Surgeon General, Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C.; Military Plans Officer, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C.; Commander, 24th Medical Battalion, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, Georgia; Director of Medical Planning, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), Washington, D.C.; Professor of Health Care Studies, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.; Dean of Students/Chief of Staff, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.;  and Professor of Healthcare Studies/ Dean Emeritus, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.