Laurie Buckhout

Laurie Buckhout
Official portrait, 2025
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy
Acting
In office
March 17, 2025 – September 5, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byAshley Manning (acting)
Succeeded byAustin Dahmer (acting)
Personal details
BornLaurie Gaye Moe
1961 (age 64–65)
Virginia, U.S.
PartyRepublican
SpousePaul Buckhout
Children2
EducationJames Madison University (BS)
Army University (MMAS)
Webster University (MS)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service
1984–2010
RankColonel[1]
Battles/warsGulf War
Iraq War

Laurie Moe Buckhout (born 1961)[2] is an American retired military officer. She served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy in 2025. Buckout is the Republican nominee in the 2026 election in North Carolina's 1st congressional district.

Early life

Buckhout was born and raised in the Shenandoah region of Virginia.[2][3] She earned a bachelor's degree from James Madison University. She later earned a master's degree in information management from Webster University.[4]

Career

Military

Buckhout served in the United States Army for 26 years, including serving in the Gulf War. In 2003, she commanded an 800-person battalion task force in Iraq.[5] She retired as a colonel in 2010.[6]

Consulting

Following her retirement from the Army, Buckhout founded Corvus Consulting, a Virginia-based consulting company which specializes in electronic warfare and cyberspace operations.[7][5] In 2019, she sold the company for $9 million.[8] She moved to North Carolina in 2021.[8]

Government

Buckhout was the Republican nominee for North Carolina's 1st congressional district in 2024, narrowly losing to incumbent Don Davis.[9] In 2025, she said she experienced health issues during the campaign and did not expect to run for office again.[10]

She was appointed to serve in the Second Trump administration in the United States Department of Defense as the acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy from March to September 2025.[11]

In December 2025, following redistricting that made the district more favorable to Republicans, she announced she would be running again in 2026 for Congress, saying her health had improved.[10][12] She received the endorsement and funding of Leading the Future super PAC backed by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI.[13] In March 2026, she won the Republican primary.[14] She was endorsed by President Donald Trump.[15]

Personal life

She is married to Paul Buckhout and has two children.[5] They live in Edenton, North Carolina.[5]

On August 8, 2017, Buckhout was charged with a DUI in Richmond County, Georgia.[16] She pleaded guilty to reckless driving on October 8, 2019 and was ordered to pay a $500 fine.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Colonel (ret.) Laurie Buckhout". AFCEA. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  2. 1 2 Steger, Preston (5 March 2024). "Newcomer Laurie Buckhout wins Republican nomination for North Carolina's 1st Congressional District". WVEC. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  3. ↑ Square, Alan Wooten The Center (February 21, 2024). "Primary 2024: Buckhout, Smith eye chance to unseat Davis". Reflector. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  4. ↑ "North Carolina's 1st Congressional race might be headed to a recount". The North State Journal. November 6, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Retired U.S. Army combat commander and Edenton resident Buckhout announces run for Congress". Elizabeth City Daily Advance. Elizabeth City, North Carolina. October 16, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Laurie Buckhout". Department of Defense. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  7. ↑ Press, Associated (November 6, 2024). "Laurie Buckhout concedes race to Democratic US Rep Don Davis in NC's 1st Congressional District". WXII. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  8. 1 2 Anderson, Bryan (February 27, 2026). "Inside the Intensely Personal Battle to Be the GOP Nominee in Eastern NC". The Assembly NC. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  9. ↑ Wu, Nicholas (7 November 2024). "Democrat Don Davis defeats Laurie Buckhout in key North Carolina House race". Politico. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  10. 1 2 Anderson, Bryan (2026-02-27). "Inside the Intensely Personal Battle to Be the GOP Nominee in Eastern NC". The Assembly NC. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  11. ↑ Jamison, Miles (29 September 2025). "Laurie Moe Buckhout Named Assistant National Cyber Director for Policy at White House". ExecutiveGov. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  12. ↑ Dutton, Christa (17 December 2025). "This Competitive Race for U.S. House Could Be a Rematch". The Assembly. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  13. ↑ Nichols, Hans (March 5, 2026). "OpenAI has good opening night in 2026 primary season". axios.com. Axios. Archived from the original on March 5, 2026. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  14. ↑ Campbell, Colin (March 3, 2026). "Laurie Buckhout wins GOP Congressional primary to set up rematch against U.S. Rep. Don Davis". WUNC-TV. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: PBS North Carolina. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  15. ↑ Hagan, Sarah (March 11, 2026). "President Trump endorses Laurie Buckhout in North Carolina congressional race". WTKR. Norfolk, Virginia. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  16. 1 2 Day, Chris (February 7, 2024). "Buckhout pleaded guilty to reckless driving after initial DUI charge reduced". Daily Advance. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
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