Rear Adm. Les Reardanz is a native of Illinois and holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of California , Davis and a Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of  Law.

Reardanz’s reserve command and senior leadership tours include serving as commanding officer Naval Reserve (NR) Region Legal Service Office Northwest; staff judge advocate, Reserve Component Command, Navy Region Northwest; the first commanding officer of NR Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Legal (where the unit received the Gilbert Cup for the best reserve legal unit in the nation); and, deputy force judge advocate (Reserve), Commander, Naval Reserve Forces Command/Navy Reserve Law Program Specialty Law Pillar Lead.  He has also served as special assistant, Manpower and Recruiting for the Navy Reserve Law Program and as the Chair of the Issues Committee for the National Navy Reserve Policy Board.  

His forward deployed and operational tours include legal advisor, Combined Security Transition Command, Afghanistan; chief, Rule of Law for International Security Assistance Forces, Afghanistan; and chief, Operational Law, U.S. Central Command (Forward) providing legal support to Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.  He has participated in multiple exercises in Korea, including serving as the chief of staff for U.S. Forces embedded with the Republic of Korea’s 2nd Operational Command.  He also served on active duty with a Naval Coastal Warfare Command in support of Operation Noble Eagle (Puget Sound) after 9-11.

His other reserve tours include deputy legal counsel (reserve), Office of the Legal Counsel, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; executive officer, NR Region Legal Service Office Europe and Southwest Asia; deputy legal counsel (Reserve), U.S. Central Command; Staff Judge Advocate (Reserve), commander, Naval Forces, Korea; and with NR Region Legal Service Office, Northwest.  On active duty, he served with Navy Legal Service Office, San Diego; Naval Special Warfare Center; and the Admiralty Counsel’s office at the Navy’s Office of the Judge Advocate General.

In civilian capacity, he held various local government leadership positions, including chief executive officer of a transit agency and a port authority, a municipal attorney, museum director, and waterfront redevelopment project manager.  He is admitted to practice law in Washington and California (inactive) and before the U. S. Supreme Court, as well as other various federal and military courts.  He also volunteers with various non-profits, commissions, and bar committees.

Last Updated: 15 August 2022