COMMANDER Graham E. Lanz

 

Commander Graham E. Lanz currently serves as Executive Officer at the Maritime Law Enforcement Academy, where he is responsible for the efficient operation of the Coast Guard’s principal law enforcement training center. He oversees the training of more than 1,000 students per year at five training locations, in courses of instruction ranging from one to ten weeks.

 

Commander Lanz previously served as Senior Trial Counsel at Legal Service Command, prosecuting criminal cases at courts-martial around the country. He was previously the first Senior Special Victims’ Counsel at the Coast Guard Academy. His first tour in the legal program was at the Seventeenth District in Juneau, AK, where he served as trial counsel at nine courts-martial and legal advisor to two major marine casualty investigations. Prior to becoming an attorney, he was assigned to Marine Safety Unit Cleveland as a marine inspector, investigating officer, and pollution responder. Previous assignments include Group Eastern Shore in Chincoteague, VA and a temporary Headquarters staff created to implement the sector reorganization. He also served at the Cleveland Military Entrance Processing Station, overseeing the enlistment of thousands of applicants into all branches of the Armed Forces. Prior to receiving his commission through the Reserve Officer Candidate Indoctrination program he was a Boatswain’s Mate in the Coast Guard Reserve, serving as boat crew and boarding team member at small boat stations on the Potomac River. Before enlisting in 2002 he was an Auxiliarist and a civilian employee at Coast Guard Headquarters. His deployments include the 2009 Haiti earthquake, the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and relief and recovery operations in Louisiana and the Virgin Islands following hurricanes Katrina and Maria. He currently serves as a collateral duty military judge.

 

Commander Lanz graduated from the University of Michigan in 2001 as a Political Science major. He received an M.A. in National Security Studies from George Washington University in 2003. He attended Case Western Reserve University’s School of Law, receiving his Juris Doctor in 2014, and is a member of the Ohio Bar.

 

Individual military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal (2), Coast Guard Achievement Medal (2), Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon (2), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Special Operations Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and Coast Guard Pistol Marksman Ribbon, and the temporary Marine Safety qualification pin.

 

Commander Lanz and his wife Jennifer have two daughters, Adelaide and Cora. He enjoys hiking, boating, gardening, and watching Michigan football.