Charles A. Blanchard is a Partner in Arnold & Porter LLP’s Washington, DC office and is a member of the Government Contracts and National Security practices.
Having previously served as the General Counsel of the Air Force and the Army, Mr. Blanchard works with clients in the contracting and national security communities, drawing upon his experience in government and private practice, and provides unique insights into doing business with the federal government. He represents major U.S. and foreign defense and aerospace companies on a wide range of national security and government contracts issues, including transactions, internal investigations, cybersecurity and sensitive national security issues.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Blanchard served as General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer for the U.S. Air Force (2009-2013). In this role, he oversaw and guided more than 2,600 Air Force military and civilian lawyers worldwide. In addition, he served as General Counsel at the U.S. Department of the Army (1999-2001). Mr. Blanchard's other government experience includes serving as Chief Counsel to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (1997-1999), and as a two-term member of the Arizona State Senate. In 2003, he served as Interim Homeland Security Director for former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano. Mr. Blanchard was also formerly a partner in private practice where he focused on complex commercial litigation, antitrust, state constitutional law and election law.
Upon graduating from Harvard Law School, where he graduated first in his class and served as an Articles Editor for the Harvard Law Review, Mr. Blanchard served as a law clerk for DC Circuit Judge Harry Edwards (1985-1986) as well as U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (1986-1987).