Patrick Lauer graduated in May 2012 from the University of San Diego and was commissioned in July the same year. He completed The Basic School in November 2013 and was selected to become a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 7210, Air Defense Control Officer. Second Lieutenant Lauer reported to Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School (MCCES), Twentynine Palms, California for MOS training, graduating in March 2014.
In April of 2014, Second Lieutenant Lauer reported to the Tactical Air Operations Center (TAOC) Detachment, Marine Air Control Squadron 4 (MACS-4), Okinawa, Japan. Second Lieutenant Lauer was made a Crew Officer in Charge (OIC) and participated in various exercises in the Far East. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in July 2014.
In January of 2015, First Lieutenant Lauer was assigned as a Watch Officer in the Joint Interface Control Cell, 609th Combined Air and Space Operations Center, Al Udeid Airbase, Qatar. Operations that First Lieutenant Lauer supported included Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Freedom Sentinel, Operation Inherent Resolve, and the Combined Defense of the Arabian Gulf. First Lieutenant Lauer also supervised the implementation of a tactical data link network for the Yemen United States Embassy evacuation operation that occurred in February 2015. In July of 2015, First Lieutenant Lauer returned to the TAOC Detachment, MACS-4, and was later assigned as the TAOC Operations Platoon Commander.
In April of 2017, First Lieutenant Lauer reported to the Air Defense Training Section (ADTS), Air Control Training Squadron, MCCES, to serve as a primary instructor to train Marines as future MOS 7210 Air Defense Control Officers. In July of 2017, First Lieutenant Lauer was promoted to Captain, and a year later Captain Lauer was assigned as the ADTS OIC. Captain Lauer earned the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Qualification in October 2019.
In 2019, Captain Lauer was selected by the Aviation Personnel Exchange Program as the Air Defense Control Officer duty with the United States Air Force (USAF). From August 2020 to June 2022, Captain Lauer was assigned to the USAF 729 Air Control Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. He graduated from the Control & Reporting Center Initial Qualification course in July 2020, later obtaining two USAF qualifications. He graduated the Joint Interface Control Officer course in June 2021. During this tour he supported the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Air Policing Mission in Iceland, joint air defense training in Europe, and deployed in support of Central Command operations. While deployed, he was assigned as the squadron Mission Planning Cell deputy OIC, crew Section Lead, and crew Mission Commander.
Captain Lauer reported to MACS-4 in August 2022, promoting to Major in September 2022. First serving as Air Defense Company Alpha Company Commander until March 2023, Major Lauer then assumed the role of squadron Operations Officer until June 2024. He then reported to Marine Air Support Squadron 2, Okinawa, Japan, to serve as squadron Operations Officer. During this period overseas, Major Lauer oversaw the deployment of the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar to new locations throughout the western Pacific. He was also deeply involved during this tour in bilateral defense efforts with the Japanese Self Defense Force, and service level initiatives concerning Regional Air Defense Commander Operations and the Multifunction Air Operations Center. Major Lauer reported to MACS-24, Virginia Beach, Virginia, in August 2025 to assume his present role of Site Commander.
Major Lauer’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Air and Space Commendation Medal, and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.