Ms. VanLanen serves as Counsel for the Commandant of the Marine Corps (USMC), advising the Commandant, Assistant Commandant, the Deputy Commandants, and numerous other senior executive leaders in executing the USMC's mission. She leads a global team of 80 attorneys and professional support staff in delivering legal and business advice to implement Force Design objectives. She previously served as Deputy Counsel for the Commandant from July of 2023 to August of 2025.
Prior to her current role, Ms. VanLanen was Counsel for Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), where she and her team provided expert legal counsel and advocacy to sustain the Fleet, enable the Fighter and support the Family. She served as a strategic advisor on real estate, utilities and shore infrastructure investments across the Naval enterprise.
Ms. VanLanen began her career with the Department of the Navy's Office of the General Counsel (DON OGC) at the Naval Air Systems Command. She spent ten years as a procurement attorney, supporting the development and sustainment of major weapon systems, including the: F/A-18E/F; EA-18G; CH-53E; CH-53K; VH-3D; VH-60N. As Counsel of the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, she enabled over 9,000 engineers in executing the Research, Development and Testing mission for manned and unmanned platforms across 400 labs, ranges and test facilities.
From October of 2016 to June of 2020, Ms. VanLanen was assigned as Counsel, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Europe Africa Central, in Naples, Italy, providing legal support for two Fleets and five Combatant Commands, in executing construction and contingency requirements. She supported the establishment of new locations in Poland and Romania, and advised on numerous projects for Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. She returned to Washington, D.C. to serve as Deputy Counsel, CNIC.
Ms. VanLanen entered the Senior Executive Service on 1 August 2002 and spent a year as Special Counsel for Litigation at the Naval Litigation Office. In that capacity, Ms. VanLanen was responsible for the most important litigation under the cognizance of the General Counsel. Her team represented the Navy on the Department’s cases of highest significance that were brought before the U.S. Federal Courts and the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Oregon; a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs; and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Ms. VanLanen has received two Superior Civilian Service Awards and multiple Meritorious Civilian Service Awards.