COL W. Lance Blanco

COL William Lance Blanco
General Counsel, California Military Department
Staff Judge Advocate, California National Guard

Education

  • Air War College – Master of Strategic Studies, Grand Strategy Concentration, Academic Distinction, 2019
  • University of Arizona – Juris Doctor, 1999
  • University of Delaware – Bachelor of Science, 1991

Teaching Experience

  • Adjunct Professor of Law, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, “Law of Armed Conflict” (2024 to present)

Selected Conference Lectures

  • 2024 – 4th 40ID Urban Warfare Planners Course – lecturer/panel member – “Legal Aspects of Urban Operations” & “Civilian Harm Mitigation”
  • 2024 – Congressional Office for International Leadership, Open World Program, Delegation From Ukraine, “Rule of Law: Processing War Crimes,” Guest Speaker & Engagement Co-Host at University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
  • 2023 – 3rd 40ID Urban Warfare Planners Course – lecturer/panel member – “Legal Aspects of Urban Operations” & “Legality of Weapon Systems in Urban Environments”
  • 2022 – U.S. Army Combat Training Center Working Group – lecturer – “Training Legal Aspects of Urban Operations,” The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School, Charlottesville, VA
  • 2022 – Abuja, Nigeria – Capacity Building Seminar (Title 10 U.S.C., Ch. 16, § 333), guest lecturer w/Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS), presented Gender Violence & Trafficking in Persons in International Law, International Armed Conflict & the Law, African Charter of Human and People’s Rights, Use of Force in Law enforcement
  • 2022 – 2nd 40ID Urban Warfare Planners Course – lecturer/panel member – “Law of War & Rules of Engagement” w/Sahr Muhammedally
  • 2021 – 40ID Urban Warfare Planners Course – lecturer/panel member – “Legal Aspects of Urban Operations”
  • 2021 – Abuja, Nigeria – Capacity Building Seminar under authority of Title 10 U.S.C., Ch. 16, § 333, guest lecturer w/Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS), presented Law of Armed Conflict, Rules of Engagement, Targeting and led Rules of Engagement drafting workshop
  • 2016 – CNG-Nigeria Joint Seminar – Military Law in Operations Seminar, Abuja, Nigeria, event organizer/lead lecturer, taught subjects including Law of Armed Conflict and Rule of Law
  • 2015 & 2016 – The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School (TJAGLCS), Charlottesville, VA, Domestic Operations Law Course, guest instructor “National Guard Domestic Operations”
  • 2014 – CNG-Nigeria TCT, Military Justice and International Law, National Defense College, Abuja, Nigeria, event organizer/lead lecturer, taught subjects in Rules of Engagement, War Crime Reporting and Investigation, and Command Responsibility
  • 2012 – Military Law and Development of Commander/Legal Officer Relationship Seminar, National Defense College, Abuja, Nigeria, lead speaker/lecturer and presented twelve lectures over 4 days on subjects including Law of War, My Lai Case Study, Rule of Law and Operational Laws”

State Partnership Program/International Duties – Nigeria

  • 2011- Present – Lead planner for all CNG legal engagements with Nigeria
  • 2011 – 2024 – Conducted/planned 12 mil-to-mil engagements
  • 2021 – Panel Member/Briefer – AFRICOM – “Command Advice Investigations Coordination” (CAIC) 11-weekly virtual engagements w/West African partner nations on variety of legal topics, presented lecture on Military Administrative Investigations to Military Legal Officers from 15 countries

State Partnership Program/International Duties – Ukraine

  • 2022 – Operational Law Attorney for Ukraine support operations – a joint task force was assembled in February 2022 to provide 24/7 support to Ukraine by providing timely combat information, equipment and support requests to U.S. Government & to coordinate donated equipment to Ukrainian SECFOR
  • 2018 – Assessment Team Member – Defense Institute for International Legal Studies Legal DIB Scoping Visit – DoD assessment of Ukrainian military law institutions, training, doctrine and personnel
  • 2014-2024– Conducted/planned approximately 14 mil-to-mil engagements in Ukraine and Europe
  • 2016-present – Lead planner for all CNG legal engagements with partner nation Ukraine
  • 2014-2016 – Co-Chairman of National Guard Subcommittee, Joint Commission on Bilateral Defense Reform – Ukraine-US (United States European Command/National Guard of Ukraine)

Working Papers

  • “Legal Aspects of Urban Operations,” 40th Infantry Division’s Urban Operations Grey Book, 2020
  • “United States Grand Strategy Towards Nigeria and Ukraine,” U.S. Air Force War College, Maxwell AFB, Nominee, Secretary of Defense Security Essay Competition – 2019
  • “Overview of Nigerian Army Military Justice System,” co-authored with Captain Dan Ayika, Legal Officer Nigerian Army – 2016

Military Service Highlights

  • General Counsel, California Military Department (Oct 2022 to Present)
  • State Staff Judge Advocate, California National Guard (Oct 2022 to Present)
  • Staff Judge Advocate, 40th Infantry Division, JFTB, Los Alamitos (Feb 2020 to 2023)
  • Command Judge Advocate – Special Operations Detachment – NORTH, JFTB (2016 to 2020)
  • Staff Judge Advocate, California Counterdrug Task Force, Mather Field, CA (2009 to 2011)
  • Senior Trial Counsel – 1st Armored Division/V Corps, Baumholder, Germany (2008 to 2009)
  • Operational Law Attorney/Information Operations Officer – 49th Military Police Brigade, Operation Enduring Freedom 05-07, Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq. (2005-2007)
  • Theater Defense Counsel – Trial Defense Service/XVIII Airborne Corps, Trial Defense Service, Operation Enduring Freedom, K2 and Afghanistan (2002)
  • Operational Law/Administrative Law – 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC (2000-2001)

Significant Civilian Work Experience

  • 1991-1992 – Commodities Trading Clerk (spreads/arbitrage), Chicago Mercantile Exchange, IL
  • 1992-1993 – Commercial Crab Fisherman (deckhand/stackman), F/V Lady Helen, Kodiak, AK
  • 1993-1994 – Airplane Pilot, FAA Licenses – Commercial/Multi-Engine w/Instrument Rating, Certified Flight Instructor (SEL), Certified Ground Instructor, Advanced Ground Instructor, Scottsdale, AZ
  • 1994 – US Forest Service (Wildland Firefighter/Sawyer), Heber Hotshots, AZ
  • 1995-1998 – Smokejumper (Wildland Firefighter), US Forest Service, Missoula Smokejumpers, MT & Grangeville Smokejumpers, ID
  • 2006-2007 – Deputy District Attorney, Yolo County District Attorney, Woodland, CA

Military/Civilian Affiliations

  • 82d Airborne Association – lifetime member
  • National Smokejumper Association – member
  • North Carolina State Bar – member (currently inactive)
  • California State Bar – member (active)
  • U.S. Federal District Courts – admitted to practice before all federal district courts in California