PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW
laura hatcher A CELEBRATION OF SERVICE Story by Abby Wolverton | Photography by Laura Hatcher
When retired Navy captain Laura Hatcher agreed to sit down with me for an interview on her career as a commanding officer and current work as a photographer, she initially said that she would normally decline.
“We are taught in the military that--although you won’t always be the smartest person in the room--your leadership should instill trust and confidence to inspire others to be successful.”
“I really prefer to be behind the camera. I know I had a great career [in the Navy], but sometimes I suffer from a bit of impostor syndrome. I don’t like the spotlight.”
Despite shying away from the spotlight, the varied details of Laura’s background thread together to create a rich narrative of a purpose driven life, filled with anecdotes that she conveys with a lively spark.
It’s a curious statement from a woman who--even in her civilian life--commands a room with her energy and confidence—confidence that Laura says she acquired through her leadership experience in the military.
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Laura was born in the United Kingdom to a British mother and an American father, who served in the United States Air Force. She spent the first nine years of her life in