Col. (Ret.) John Lazar
Senior Facilitator
John Lazar brings over 38 years of proven leadership in international business development, contracting, program management, and strategic planning to Battlefield Leadership.
As a former vice president and general manager of the International Business Unit at Oshkosh Defense, John managed cross-functional teams spanning five time zones. He spearheaded expansion across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America, utilizing diverse procurement strategies to penetrate new markets while maintaining 100 percent customer retention. Conducting market analysis to drive competitive positioning, he developed partnerships with key government, industrial, and military stakeholders.
Prior to Oshkosh Defense, John served as chief operating officer of Mission Readiness, LLC, a joint venture competing for maintenance, repair, and overhaul contracts in Afghanistan. When market conditions shifted, he successfully led the company’s strategic liquidation, ensuring full regulatory compliance and maximizing stakeholder returns.
John retired as a United States Army colonel after 26 years of distinguished service in armor and acquisition corps leadership roles. His senior positions included military deputy to a senior defense acquisition executive in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and he earned the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and a Bronze Star Medal.
With a bachelor’s degree in general engineering and Russian from the US Military Academy at West Point, John holds master’s degrees from the US Army War College (Strategic Studies), Webster University (Procurement and Acquisition Management), and Indiana University (Kinesiology), and he is certified in program management and contracting by the Defense Acquisition University.
John resides with his family in Holland, Michigan. He provides consulting services to domestic and international business clients and shares his expertise as a facilitator for Battlefield Leadership.
