National Advisor
National Advisor
National Society of Pershing Rifles
Major John F. Blankenhorn
Major Blankenhorn is a basic branch Armor Officer commissioned through the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in General Management from USMA in 1994.
Upon completion of the Armor Officer Basic Course, Major Blankenhorn served as a platoon leader in 4ID and platoon leader and staff officer in 3d ACR at Fort Carson, Colorado. Following completion of the Armor Officer Advance Course, the Combined Arms Service Staff School and Cavalry Leaders Course in 1998, Major Blankenhorn served as the 1-1 Cavalry Squadron Maintenance Officer and the C Troop Commander while stationed in Budingen, Germany.
In August 2001, Major Blankenhorn was assigned as a trainer to the 1-394th TSBn of the 75th ID (TS) in support of the Louisiana National Guard’s 256 Enhanced Separate Brigade with duty in Shreveport, Louisiana. He subsequently served as a Small Group Instructor for the Engineer Captain’s Career Course at Fort Leonard-Wood, Missouri from August 2003 to August 2005.
Prior to his current duties at UNL, Major Blankenhorn was assigned to 3d ACR at Fort Hood, Texas where he served as Assistant Regimental S-3, Regimental Planner and a Squadron Operations Officer and Executive Officer in garrison and while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Major Blankenhorn is a graduate of Intermediate Level Education at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) at Fort Benning, Georgia and holds a Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Louisiana Tech University.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), the Iraqi Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Major Blankenhorn also maintains the Valorous Unit Award as a permanent unit award. His skill qualifications include the Airborne and Air Assault badges.
Major Blankenhorn and his wife Sherri have five children, Tyler, Haley, Tierny, Anissa, and Linnea.