Faces of AFRICOM | Office of Legal Counsel

The "Faces of AFRICOM" project is a recurring series that aims to provide greater insight to different positions across U.S. Africa Command and how those roles support U.S. and African partner shared goals. This edition sheds light on the role of the Office of Legal Counsel from the perspective of Sandra Franzblau, a civilian attorney at U.S. Africa Command. Legal advisors are essential to U.S. Africa Command as they guide commanders and their staff on making informed decisions in accordance with the law. Their goal is to provide advice in a timely and accurate manner to ensure operations and missions are rewarding for both the U.S. military and its partners. "We are not like a traditional legal office, where we are providing legal opinions on other staff's plans. Instead, we are working as staff officers ourselves, providing guidance to the command on security cooperation activities designed to address our partner's capacity and capability gaps," Franzblau said. The Office of Legal Counsel provides legal guidance in various areas, including international law, operational law, administrative law, legal engagements, military justice, ethics/ standards of conduct, personnel matters, fiscal law, and contract law. Almost everything at U.S. Africa Command goes through the Office of Legal Counsel. "We provide essential support to the exercise program, engaging with African military legal partners on how they exercise consistent with the law. We have our own two signature legal engagements - the African Military Law Forum and the Accountability Colloquium. It is one of the most gratifying professional positions that I have ever held," said Franzblau. U.S. Africa Command is one of seven U.S. Department of Defense geographic combatant commands. The command is responsible for all U.S. military operations, exercises, security cooperation, and conducts crisis response on the African continent in order to advance U.S. interests and promote regional security, stability, and prosperity.



By Sgt. Alyssa Abke U.S. Africa Command Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany Aug 23, 2022
More in Media Room
AFRICOM Commander Visits Tunisia
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley traveled to Tunisia, to discuss further cooperation between the United States and Tunisia, August 28, 2024.
Read more
AFRICOM Commander Visits Libya
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley traveled to Libya Aug. 27 and Aug. 29, to further cooperation between the U.S. and Libya.
Read more
Space Forces in Europe - Space Forces Africa holds change of command ceremony
U.S. Space Forces in Europe – Space Forces Africa, also known as SPACEFOREUR-AF, is the U.S. Space Force component field command charged with supporting both U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, encompassing 51 countries in Europe and 53 countries in Africa, respectively.
Read more
More in Media Room
AFRICOM Commander Visits Tunisia
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley traveled to Tunisia, to discuss further cooperation between the United States and Tunisia, August 28, 2024.
Read more
AFRICOM Commander Visits Libya
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley traveled to Libya Aug. 27 and Aug. 29, to further cooperation between the U.S. and Libya.
Read more
Space Forces in Europe - Space Forces Africa holds change of command ceremony
U.S. Space Forces in Europe – Space Forces Africa, also known as SPACEFOREUR-AF, is the U.S. Space Force component field command charged with supporting both U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, encompassing 51 countries in Europe and 53 countries in Africa, respectively.
Read more
More in Media Room
AFRICOM Commander Visits Tunisia
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley traveled to Tunisia, to discuss further cooperation between the United States and Tunisia, August 28, 2024.
Read more
AFRICOM Commander Visits Libya
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley traveled to Libya Aug. 27 and Aug. 29, to further cooperation between the U.S. and Libya.
Read more
Space Forces in Europe - Space Forces Africa holds change of command ceremony
U.S. Space Forces in Europe – Space Forces Africa, also known as SPACEFOREUR-AF, is the U.S. Space Force component field command charged with supporting both U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, encompassing 51 countries in Europe and 53 countries in Africa, respectively.
Read more