Kurt Schlichter: From Army Colonel to Lawyer and Political Writer
A closer look at his military service, legal career, education, books, media work, family life, and current public roles.
Introduction
Kurt Schlichter has built several careers.
Military officer. Trial lawyer. Author. Columnist.
Those jobs may look unrelated. Yet his public work often brings all three together, especially when he writes or speaks about law, national security, military affairs, and American politics.
He is currently a Senior Columnist at Townhall, a retired U.S. Army infantry colonel, an attorney licensed in California and Texas, and the author of political nonfiction and fiction. Townhall was still publishing his work in September 2026.
His career stretches across decades. So, let us break it down.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kurt Andrew Schlichter |
| Profession | Attorney, author, columnist, commentator |
| Current Media Role | Senior Columnist at Townhall |
| Military Rank | Retired U.S. Army Colonel |
| Military Career | About 27 years |
| Military Branches | U.S. Army and California Army National Guard |
| Education | UC San Diego, Loyola Law School, U.S. Army War College |
| Law Degree | J.D., Loyola Law School, 1994 |
| Graduate Degree | Master of Strategic Studies |
| California Bar Status | Active |
| Texas Bar Status | Eligible to practice |
| Major Military Command | 1st Squadron, 18th Cavalry Regiment |
| Known War Service | Persian Gulf War and Kosovo |
| Wife | Irina |
| Children | Two |
| Main Writing Areas | Politics, law, military affairs, fiction |
His California State Bar record lists his full professional name as Kurt Andrew Schlichter and shows an active California license. Texas Bar records show that he has been licensed there since July 2017.
Who Is Kurt Schlichter?
Kurt Schlichter is an American lawyer, retired Army officer, author, and conservative political commentator.
That is the short answer.
His professional background goes much deeper.
He spent years serving in the Army. He later built a legal career around civil and business litigation. Writing then became another major part of his work, first through conservative commentary and later through novels, nonfiction books, columns, podcasts, television appearances, and radio programs.
Townhall currently identifies him as one of its senior columnists. His profile describes his background as a trial lawyer and retired Army infantry colonel.
Education
His academic background mixes politics, law, and military strategy.
Schlichter studied at the University of California, San Diego, where professional profiles say he majored in Communications and Political Science.
He later attended Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.
He earned his Juris Doctor in 1994.
Texas State Bar records independently confirm Loyola Law School, the J.D. degree, and his May 1994 graduation. His professional profiles say he worked as a law review editor during law school.
His studies did not stop there.
Kurt Schlichter later attended the United States Army War College and earned a Master of Strategic Studies. A National Conservatism conference profile dates the degree to July 2011.
That education helps explain his writing.
Law appears often. So does strategy.
Military Career
Military service forms a big part of his professional background.
According to his published professional profiles, Schlichter first enlisted in the U.S. Army before receiving a commission as a second lieutenant through Army Officer Candidate School.
He served on active duty.
Then came the National Guard.
After leaving active Army service, he joined the California Army National Guard and continued serving for more than two decades.
His military career eventually totaled about 27 years, according to his 2025 National Conservatism profile. He retired at the rank of colonel.
That was a long run.
His service included both overseas operations and domestic emergency missions.
Desert Storm and Kosovo
Schlichter served during the Persian Gulf War.
His personal professional profile says he was stationed in West Germany before deploying during Operation Desert Storm, where he served as a platoon leader.
He later served in Kosovo.
Townhall, Hachette, CPAC, and his conference profiles all identify him as a veteran of the Gulf War and Kosovo-related military service.
He also became a qualified Army paratrooper.
His Hachette profile notes his Army Airborne qualification and identifies the silver jump wings associated with that training.
Commanding the 1st Squadron, 18th Cavalry
He eventually moved into senior command.
Schlichter commanded the 1st Squadron, 18th Cavalry Regiment, a reconnaissance-related California Army National Guard unit. His Townhall, Hachette, and National Conservatism profiles all record that command assignment.
His military studies included several Army schools.
Public professional profiles identify the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, and U.S. Army War College among his military education.
His National Conservatism profile says his awards included the Legion of Merit with an oak leaf cluster.
Domestic Emergency Service
His National Guard work was not limited to overseas missions.
His published profile records mobilizations connected with the Los Angeles riots, the Northridge earthquake, and the 2007 San Diego fires.
These assignments placed National Guard personnel in very different settings.
War was one part.
Disaster response was another.
That background later became a recurring reference point in his writing about military organization, leadership, and national security.
Legal Career
Schlichter entered the California legal profession in 1994.
His California State Bar number is 172385, and the State Bar lists his license as active.
He later gained licenses in other jurisdictions.
The Texas State Bar lists him as eligible to practice in Texas and records a Texas license date of July 6, 2017. It also lists California and the District of Columbia under his other state licenses.
His listed practice areas include:
- Business law
- Consumer matters
- Commercial litigation
- Personal injury litigation
- Construction law
- Insurance matters
- Civil appellate work
He has spent much of his career as a trial lawyer.
Hachette’s author profile describes him as a law-firm partner who has represented both companies and individuals in matters ranging from ordinary business cases to entertainment and political disputes.
Federal court records also show him appearing as counsel for CarMax in litigation in California.
So the lawyer title is real.
It is not just branding.
From Law and Military Work to Political Commentary
Writing gradually became another career.
His publisher and conference biographies say Andrew Breitbart recruited him to write conservative commentary. He later contributed to Breitbart-related outlets before building a larger audience elsewhere.
Today, he is strongly associated with Townhall.
Townhall lists him as a Senior Columnist and regularly publishes his political commentary.
His writing generally comes from a conservative political viewpoint.
That description matters.
Readers should know the angle.
His work regularly discusses Republican politics, Donald Trump, national security, immigration, courts, foreign policy, military affairs, cultural issues, and media coverage.
Television, Radio, and Podcast Work
His work extends past written columns.
Professional profiles list appearances on Fox News, Newsmax, and nationally syndicated radio programs.
Radio remains part of his work.
In September 2026, the Hugh Hewitt program identified him as a guest host for several episodes while describing him as a Townhall senior columnist and retired colonel.
Townhall also publishes his podcast and other subscriber media.
So he works across formats.
Print. Audio. Television. Online video.
Books and Fiction Career
Books form another major part of his output.
His published work includes both political nonfiction and fiction.
Among his better-known nonfiction titles are:
- Militant Normals
- The 21 Biggest Lies About Donald Trump (and You!)
- We’ll Be Back: The Fall and Rise of America
- Conservative Insurgency
Simon & Schuster identifies Militant Normals as a USA Today bestseller.
His fiction has grown into a large body of work.
The Kelly Turnbull series began with People’s Republic in 2016 and reached nine published novels by 2025:
- People’s Republic — 2016
- Indian Country — 2017
- Wildfire — 2018
- Collapse — 2019
- Crisis — 2020
- The Split — 2021
- Inferno — 2022
- Overlord — 2023
- Panama Red — 2025
Current book catalogs agree on that publication order.
He released another novel, American Apocalypse: The Second American Civil War, in July 2025.
More fiction is coming.
His novel American Warlord is scheduled for publication on November 3, 2026. As of September 25, 2026, Ark Press still lists the title for preorder.
Political Commentary
His public political identity is clear.
Schlichter writes from a conservative viewpoint and appears at conservative conferences and media events.
In 2025, he spoke at the National Conservatism Conference on foreign policy.
He was also announced as a speaker for CPAC USA 2026 in Texas.
His columns frequently argue for positions associated with contemporary conservative and America First politics.
Readers may agree strongly.
Others may disagree.
The factual point is simpler: political opinion writing is now one of the most visible parts of his public career.
Pentagon Senior Service College Task Force
A newer chapter appeared in 2026.
The Washington Post reported in August 2026 that Schlichter appeared in Pentagon records connected with the office responsible for personnel and readiness. The newspaper reported uncertainty at the time about his exact employment terms and compensation.
One part was later publicly confirmed.
He served on a Senior Service College Task Force that reviewed U.S. military senior-service colleges.
A statement attributed to Pentagon official Anthony Tata thanked Schlichter, Rob Maness, and Tom Anderson for working on the task force and said the review had been completed.
Schlichter disputed the way the Washington Post framed its report.
The newspaper stood by its reporting.
So the confirmed point is his task-force service. Broader claims about the nature of that government relationship should be handled carefully because the available reporting and public responses differ on how it should be characterized.
Wife and Family
His wife is Irina.
That information appears in both his own professional profile and Hachette’s author page.
His personal professional profile says the couple has two children.
He has historically been associated with the Los Angeles area.
A 2025 conference profile said he divides his time between Los Angeles and Houston with his wife.
Those are enough public family details.
Private information about his children does not need to be repeated.
What Is Kurt Schlichter Doing Now?
As of September 2026, he remains active across several areas.
He is writing political columns.
He is appearing on radio.
He continues publishing books.
And his legal licenses remain active or eligible in the jurisdictions checked for this article.
His latest public activity is easy to see.
Townhall published his work during September 2026, while the Hugh Hewitt program listed him as a guest host on September 24, 2026.
He also has another novel on the way.
American Warlord is due in November 2026.
Final Thought
Kurt Schlichter’s career does not fit into one job title.
The Army came first.
Law followed.
Then writing grew bigger.
Today, much of his public identity comes from conservative commentary, yet his professional record also includes decades of military service, courtroom work, strategic studies, radio appearances, and a long list of published books.
That mix explains his audience.
He writes about subjects he has worked around for years: law, military affairs, politics, strategy, and conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kurt Schlichter?
He is an American attorney, retired Army colonel, author, and conservative political columnist. He currently writes for Townhall.
Was Kurt Schlichter in the military?
Yes. He served on active duty and in the California Army National Guard during a military career of about 27 years.
What rank did he reach?
He retired from the U.S. Army at the rank of colonel.
Where did Kurt Schlichter study law?
He earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles in 1994.
Is Kurt Schlichter still a lawyer?
Yes. The State Bar of California lists his license as active, while Texas records list him as eligible to practice there.
What books has he written?
His work includes Militant Normals, We’ll Be Back, The 21 Biggest Lies About Donald Trump (and You!), the Kelly Turnbull novel series, The Attack, and American Apocalypse.
Is Kurt Schlichter married?
Yes. His published professional profiles identify his wife as Irina.
What is his next book?
American Warlord is scheduled for release on November 3, 2026.
