Tattoo of LTG Stephen R. Lanza
US Army, Retired

New York, New York, Frank Sinatra 

Stephen Lanza was born on May 10, 1957, in Brooklyn, New York. Much like Brooklyn of the 1950’s, Steve’s heritage was a melting pot as well. His grandparents were first-generation Americans, with his father’s family’s roots in Spain and his mother’s family that came from Italy. His father played professional baseball as a rookie for the Milwaukee Braves. He was then drafted for the Korean War, where he received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Once the war ended, his Dad returned to New York to start family life. The Lanza Family moved from Brooklyn to Stat - en Island, where Steve attended school and played football and baseball. He graduated in 1976 and was the first in his family to attend college. 

‘The West Point March’ - USMA Marching Band

He chose West Point for college based on a brochure he picked up. He was ready for an adventure, and the brochure made the Army look like quite the adventure. While at the US Military Academy, he played 150-pound football, now called Sprint football, and was also a member of the boxing team. When it came time to branch, Field Artillery was Steve’s first choice. His friends were branching FA and wanted to go to Fort Campbell together. Following graduation, Steve and four lieutenant friends rented a house together at Fort Campbell.

‘Where the Stars and Stripes and Eagle Fly’ - Aaron Tippin 

As a new lieutenant in 1981, Steve’s first few assignments were with the 101st Airborne Division, 1st-321st Field Artillery, “Top Guns”. He learned a lot at the 101st and decided the Army was a pretty good career. He went back to Fort Sill for the Career Course, then off to Bamberg, Germany. He served in a Stand Off Target Acquisitions unit, then as Task Force FSO, S1, and finally commanded two firing batteries, BTRY A 2nd-78th FA and BTRY A 3rd-1st FA.

‘I Can’t Drive 55’ – Sammy Haggar

Following Battery Command, Steve was sent to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin as an Observer/Controller. Trouble was mounting in Saudi Arabia and as war broke out, Steve was deployed to Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield. He again served as a ‘kind-of’ OC on deployment. He supported many units, going from brigade to brigade during the fight. While downrange, CPT Lanza was promoted to MAJ Lanza and upon redeployment, he reported to CGSC and SAMS at Fort Leavenworth.

‘Teacher I Need You’ – Elton John

On the flight back from deployment, Steve was told by a friend that he needed to meet an English teacher at the local High School. So one day, Steve dropped by the school, walked into the faculty lounge, and said Hi, I’m Steve Lanza, Matt told me to drop by to meet you. The Teacher was very flustered and abruptly told him that he did not belong in the school and promptly threw him out. Madeline and Steve ended up dating for the next six years.

Steve graduated from CGSC and SAMs then went to Big Red One as the chief of plans, then as S3 and finally serving as XO. While there, he became friends with Joe Ramirez. He transferred to Germany to be the DivArty S3 and then became the Aide-de-Camp to General Bill Crouch, the COMSFOR and CINCU - SARER. At this time, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was sent back to Germany to be the XO at 1st ID for then DivArty Commander Ken Hunze - ker. Steve and Madeline were married in 1996.

‘Long Way to the Top’ - AC/DC

Steve commanded the 1st – 5th Field Artillery Battalion, “Hamilton’s Own” at Fort Riley. During their time there, Madeline was teaching as an English professor at Kansas State. Then it was off to the Pentagon where Steve was assigned to Strategy, Plans and Policy, G3.

‘Courtesy of the Red White and Blue’ - Toby Keith

Madeline was pregnant and they were living in an apartment across from the Pentagon when 911 happened. The plane hit the building on the same side where Steve was working. They were both so thankful that neither one suffered injuries that day. Their son Raymond was born on December 26th that same year. The Lanzas, a family of three, spent two years in DC as Steve worked in the National Military Command Center and on the GWOT planning staff for a year and then he attended the National War College.

‘You Shook Me All Night Long’ - AC/DC

Steve was selected to command 1st Cav DivArty at Fort Hood. The family was on the move to Texas. Following that assignment, he was again chosen to command, this time the 5th BCT unit located in Southern Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2004. This was a tough assignment, but the family was reunited in DC as Steve was sent to the J8 as the Director of Joint Requirements.

‘Keep on Rockin Me Baby’ – Steve Miller Band

Steve was picked up for one-star in his second year on the joint staff. The Lanzas were off to Germany, where he first served as the Chief of Staff and then as the DCG of Fifth Corps. His next assignment was as the G3 of USARER. He left Heidelberg as a onestar and went back to Iraq, for a long, 17-month tour, as the Chief of Strategic Effects for General Odierno, Multi-National Forces, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. While there, he earned his second star.

MG Lanza was then back at the Pentagon as the Chief of Army Public Affairs. Following DC, the Lanzas moved to the Pacific Northwest where Steve took command of Seventh Infantry Division. He was promoted to Lieutenant General and then commanded First Corps. As the Commander of JBLM he governed a community comprised of 250,000 service members and civilians. As the Commander of I Corps, he led a values-based combat organization of over 53,000 professionals supporting both global combat operations and regional security operations in the Indo-Pacific theater. Following 37 years of faithful service in the US Army, LTG Stephen R. Lanza retired in a ceremony at Joint Base Lewis McCord.

‘Time of Your Life’ – Green Day

After retiring, Steve worked for Howard Shultz, CEO of Starbucks, on his strategy team while running for President. He has also worked in the defense industry consulting, most recently for Raytheon and now for Booz Allen Hamilton. Madeline retired after a long career teaching English at both the high school and college levels. Raymond recently graduated college. He interned for Senator Cantwell and will be attending Grad School. Steve still enjoys sports, but these days, it’s more from the spectator side. The Lanzas settled in Lakewood, Washington, and Steve continues to serve on many volunteer boards, including the US Field Artillery Association, RADA, Ametrine, and Sarcos, as well as a Leadership Fellow for AUSA. He has also served as a National Security Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and serves on the Jennyco Board of Directors, Geneva Foundation’s Board, and the Board of Directors for the Center for Climate and National Security. He is a Member of the Council of Foreign Relations and has an Honorary Doctorate from St. Martins University. Steve is a lifelong Redleg and continues to support the Field Artillery Community.