User:Blando1775

Charles Bland: An American Civic Leader

Charles V. Bland was born March 12, 1979 in Mt Shasta, California to James and Katrina Bland. The son of a Railroad Engineer for Southern Pacific, Charles spent the first two years of his life in Mt Shasta, California before moving to Alturas, California. Charles remained in Alturas until the age of seven when his father’s job required the family to move a hundred miles north to Southern Oregon’s Klamath Basin. Charles remained in the Klamath Basin until graduating from Hosanna Christian High school in 1998. While in High school Charles was active in his community, a member of 4-H, Civil Air Patrol and Key Club Charles devoted countless hours to charity and community Service. Charles was also very active in his school, lettering all four years in Basket ball and Honor’s Choir. Charles served all four years as a worship team leader and also held executive officer roles in Student Government graduating his senior year as the Student Body President.

A Life of Military Service

Charles joined the United States Marine Corps, Reserves in 1997 graduating Boot Camp at MCRD San Diego in June of 1998 and served as a Combat Engineer (USMCR), in Eugene Oregon with Bridge Company B until May of 2000 when he augmented to Active Duty and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA. Charles spent 2 years as the Intelligence NCO for 7th Engineer Support Battalion before moving to Bridge Company A as a Bridge Platoon Sergeant. In 2002 Charles was selected as a Marine Combat Engineer Detachment NCOIC for the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), which was selected to augment the Navy’s first Expeditionary Strike Group in response to the Global War on Terror. The unit deployed in September of 2003 for nine months and deployed throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa executing multiple missions in support of the Global War on Terrorism to include combat operations in Iraq.

Charles left the Marine Corps in June of 2004 and returned to the Klamath Basin to attend Oregon Institute of Technology. In December of 2004 Charles enlisted in the Oregon Air National Guard with the 173d Fighter Wing in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Charles served as traditional (weekend) Airman while continuing to attend Oregon Institute of Technology. In September of 2005 Charles accepted a fulltime position with the 173FW Financial Management office. In March of 2006 Charles Married Molly Katherine Reynolds, Charles and Molly took up residence in Merrill, Oregon. Charles remained assigned to the 173d Fighter Wing Financial Management office serving as a Military/Civilian Pay technician, Accounting Lead, Quality Assurance and ultimately being selected as the Maintenance Group Financial Advisor in 2009. In 2011 Charles was selected to serve as the sole in-theater Resource Advisor for a 3-star, Combined Joint Task Force, for the Joint Forces Special Operations Component Command – Iraq. Charles was deployed to Iraq for eight months where he participated in operations of national significance in direct support of counter terror operations. While serving in Iraq Charles was selected for a Speechwriting/Action Officer position in support of the Office of the Director, Air National Guard in Washington D.C. Upon his return from Iraq, Charles and his family moved from Oregon to Northern Virginia where they currently reside.

A Man of the People

Beyond his service in the Military Charles has also been active in his community. Upon his return to the Klamath Basin in 2004 after his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps Charles became an active Civic Leader within the Klamath Basin. Charles began actively participating in community service projects and became heavily involved in local and state politics. In his first term at Oregon Institute of Technology, Charles was able to re-establish a College Republican’s chapter. In 2005 he has was elected to the Klamath Community College Board of education and multiple terms as a Klamath County Republican Central Committee, Precinct Chairman (2004-2010). As an active member of the Klamath County Republican Central Committee, Charles was elected twice as the Committee’s Third Vice Chairman, as well as being elected the 1st Vice Chairman for the Oregon Federation of College Republicans. In 2006 Charles ran for the Merrill City Council, ousting an eight year incumbent with more than 78% of the vote. As a newly elected Council member Charles made it a point to ensure he was the voice of his community, taking on multiple issues of concern from education to property rights. Concerned about the lack of formal policing and community crime, Charles was appointed by the Mayor as the Merrill City Police Commissioner. Within six months of his appointment Charles has fired the sitting police Chief and hired a Klamath County Law Enforcement veteran with over eighteen years of experience to the Post. Together with the new Police Chief, Commissioner Bland was able to influence a new era of community policing. Crime dropped 89% in the first year of the new hire and continues to remain at record lows. In 2008 Charles was appointed by the Klamath County Board of commissioners to the Klamath County Planning Commission. As a planning commissioner Charles was responsible for overseeing and voting on various land use and zoning requirements throughout Klamath County. Charles was continuously recognized for his willingness to embrace new green energy technologies and to champion their causes and petitions when before the Planning Commission. In 2010Charles stepped down from his elected/appointed positions in order to become the founder and Chairman of the Committee against Rural Discrimination (CaRD). CaRD was founded in response to the Klamath County School Board’s proposal to push through a county wide merger of several rural elementary schools and one County High school. Charles lead a county wide campaign against the mergers rallying local communities and formulating a strong, unified front that rallied the all ethnicities and social/cultural communities behind one common cause…the future of their children. Charles efforts were successful and through the efforts CaRD and its members the merger was defeated. Charles continues to remain devoted to creating social and economic change in his community, state and nation. He actively encourages people to become involved and stand to make a difference. Charles has actively lobbied in Salem on a wide variety of issues ranging from economic growth, property rights and higher education issues to domestic violence and poverty. Charles is proud of his heritage and his community. “It is the reason that I am so involved; this community has given me so much that I feel honored to be able to give back.”

EDUCATION:

1998	U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Training 1999	Officer Candidates School 2001	U.S. Marine Corps Corporal’s Course 2003	U.S. Marine Corps Sapper Leader Course 2003	U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant’s Course 2007	Air Force Comptroller Apprentice Course (*Distinguished Graduate) 2009	Air Force Comptroller Craftsman Course 2009	Air Force Combat Comptroller Deployed Operations/Contingency Course 2009   Bachelor of Science: Philosophy/Politics/Economics, Eastern Oregon University 2010	Air Force Noncommissioned Officers Academy (*Flight Leader) 2011   Master of Business Administration, Ashford University, Iowa 2012	Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy 2013	Master of Public Policy, Liberty University, Virginia

Major Awards and Decorations

1.	Bronze Star Medal 2.	Meritorious Service Medal 3.	Air Force Commendation Medal 4.	Air Force Achievement Medal (1Device) 5.	Navy Achievement Medal (1 Device) 6.	Iraq Campaign Medal (2 Devices) 7.	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal 8.	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal