COL W. Lance Blanco
Colonel W. Lance Blanco
Staff Judge Advocate 40th Infantry Division, 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
Military Service
- Staff Judge Advocate, 40th Infantry Division, JFTB, Los Alamitos (Feb 2020 to present)
- 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)
- Assistant Judge Advocate – Joint Force Headquarters, Sacramento, CA (various 2002-2008)
- Theater Defense Counsel – Trial Defense Service/XVIII Airborne Corps, Trial Defense Service, Operation Enduring Freedom, K2 and Afghanistan (2002)
- Trial Defense Service Attorney – Fort Irwin, CA (2001-2002)
- Operational Law/Administrative Law – 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC (2000-2001)
- Legal Assistance Attorney – XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, NC (1999-2000)
Military Education/Schools
- Resident War College – Air War College, Grand Strategy Seminar, JPME II, Maxwell AFB, 2019
- Defense Strategy Course, S. Army War College, 2015
- 43rd Staff Judge Advocate Course, TJAGLCS, 2013
- Intermediate Level Education, Resident Course, Fort Belvoir, 2012
- Air Assault School, Camp Edwards, 2005
- Judge Advocate Advanced Course, TJAGLCS, 2004
- Criminal Law Advocacy Course, TJAGLCS, 2001
- Airborne School, Fort Benning, 2000
- 150th Judge Advocate Basic Course, TJAGLCS, 1999
Selected Conference Presentations
- 2012 – Military Law and Development of Commander/Legal Officer Relationship Seminar, National Defense College, Abuja, Nigeria, lead speaker/lecturer
- 2014 – CNG-Nigeria TCT, Military Justice and International Law, National Defense College, Abuja, Nigeria, event organizer/lecturer
- 2015 & 2016 – The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School (TJAGLCS), Charlottesville, VA, Domestic Operations Law Course, guest instructor
- 2016 – CNG-Nigeria Joint Seminar – Military Law in Operations Seminar, Abuja, Nigeria, event organizer/lecturer
- 2021 – Abuja Nigeria – adjunct lecturer w/Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS)
- 2021 – 40ID Urban Warfare Planners Course – lecturer/panel member – “Legal Aspects of Urban Operations”
State Partnership Program/International Duties – Nigeria
- 2011-2022 – Lead planner for all CNG legal engagements with Nigeria
- 2011-2022 – Conducted/planned 8 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
State Partnership Program/International Duties – Ukraine
- 2014-2016 – Chairman of National Guard Subcommittee, Joint Commission on Bilateral Defense Reform – Ukraine-US (United States European Command/National Guard of Ukraine)
- 2016-present – Lead planner for all CNG legal engagements with partner nation Ukraine
- 2014-2018 – Conducted/planned approximately 10 mil-to-mil engagements
- 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
- 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
Working Papers
- “Overview of Nigerian Army Military Justice System” co-authored with Captain Dan Ayika, Legal Officer Nigerian Army – 2016 (working draft)
- United States Grand Strategy Towards Nigeria and Ukraine, US Air Force War College, Maxwell AFB, Nominee, Secretary of Defense Security Essay Competition – 2019
Military Decorations, Awards & Citations
- Bronze Star
- Meritorious Service Medal (w/OLC)
- Army Commendation Medal (w/4 OLC)
- Army Achievement Medal
- Army National Guard Components Achievement Medal (w/2 OLC)
- National Defense Service Medal
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/Bronze Star device
- Iraq Campaign Medal w/Double Bronze Star device
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (OEF)
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (OEF)
- Humanitarian Service Award
- Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/Mobilization device
- Bronze Hourglass device
- Bronze Number 2 device
- Army Service Ribbon
- Army Overseas Service Ribbon
- Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon
- Meritorious Unit Citation
- California Federal Service Ribbon
- Counterdrug Service Ribbon
- California Commendation Medal
- Parachutist’s Badge
- Air Assault Badge
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
(Current as of June 1, 2022)