Kaleb Blankenship

Biography

Lieutenant Colonel Kaleb Blankenship is a native of Asheville, North Carolina. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and was commissioned as an Armor Officer.

LTC Blankenship began his Army career with the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, where he served as a Tank Platoon Leader, Battalion Scout Platoon Leader, and Company Executive Officer. During this assignment, he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn. He later served as a Tactical Officer at the Armor Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he trained and developed more than 140 U.S. and international Armor officers.

In 2014, LTC Blankenship joined the 2d Cavalry Regiment in Germany, serving as an Assistant Operations Officer, Troop Commander, and Chief of Operations. His assignments with the Regiment included multinational training throughout Europe and deployments to Poland and Estonia in support of Atlantic Resolve and Saber Strike.

Following graduate education, LTC Blankenship served in a series of operational leadership positions with the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. He served as Chief of Future Operations and Deputy Division G3 before joining the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team as the Operations Officer for 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment and later as the Brigade Executive Officer. During these assignments, he helped lead division and brigade operations through multiple Warfighter Exercises, a National Training Center rotation, and deployments to Europe.

From 2024 to 2026, LTC Blankenship served on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon as Speechwriter and Special Advisor to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this role, he supported the Vice Chairman in communicating strategic priorities to senior military and civilian leaders, Congress, international partners, and the American public. Following his Joint Staff assignment, he completed the Joint and Combined Warfighting School and Joint Professional Military Education Phase II.

LTC Blankenship’s higher education includes a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, a Master in Operational Studies from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and a Master of Arts in Military Operations from the School of Advanced Military Studies.

LTC Blankenship is married to Erin Blankenship, a native of Malvern, Arkansas. They have three children, Ryleigh, Harper, and Oaklen.