Dylan Blaha

Lead multimedia content strategy focused on human rights, social justice, and Illinois politics. Produce and distribute original written, video, and audio content across Substack, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, BlueSky, and YouTube while driving audience growth, engagement, subscriptions, and revenue. Manage editorial calendars, publishing workflows, analytics, and cross-platform content strategy. Collaborate with Qasim Rashid and the Just Win Humanity team to support long-term platform growth, maintain editorial standards, and expand digital reach.

Completed Medical Service Corps Officer training in Fort Sam Houston, TX from August to November 2016. This course prepares new officers to lead medical Soldiers in various types of medical and maneuver units. Served as Executive Officer for C Co 634th, responsible for planning, coordinating, and managing current and future operations. Served as Battalion Medical Officer and Medical Platoon Leader for the 1/178th Infantry Battalion during Operation Freedom's Sentinel and Operation Resolute Support 2019-20, and then served as the Battalion Operations Officer for the 108th Multifunctional Medical Battalion. Currently mobilized on Active Duty as the lead Medical Planner for US Army Europe and Africa.

Serves as an energetic, forward-thinking leader running for Congress on a bold, progressive platform that centers on working families, economic and racial justice, climate action, and accountable government. Serves as the public face of the campaign, building a broad, grassroots coalition across Illinois’ 13th District - from the Metro East to Springfield, Decatur, and Champaign-Urbana. If elected, will represent those communities in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Serves as the Lead Medical Planner for United States Army Europe and Africa Office of the Command Surgeon, responsible for the development and oversight of all medical input in Theater Operational Plans. Coordinates with representatives across various US and NATO organizations to incorporate all aspects of the ten medical functions into current planning documents. Identifies current gaps and shortfalls, analyzes mission risks and potential risk mitigation strategies, and provides recommendations to Commanders. Leads a theater-wide Leader Professional Development program on NATO Medical Operations for all medical leaders in Europe. Establishes and leads Operational Planning Teams (OPTs) to increase US and NATO situational awareness and readiness.

Served as the Operations Officer-in-Charge for United States Army Europe and Africa Office of the Command Surgeon, responsible for transitioning future operations plans to current operations and reporting statuses for assigned missions and contingency operations. Provided situational awareness to the Command Surgeon and USAREUR-AF staff through daily reports. Served as the point of contact for all incoming and outgoing Requests for Information or Support. Assisted and advised the Deputy Surgeon in the execution of all operational matters and procedures.

Served as the Seventh Army Training Command Liaison Officer to USAREUR-AF Headquarters during Afghanistan refugee operations and the Russian incursion into Ukraine. Regularly attended meetings for the 7ATC Commanding General and Chief of Staff, and briefed Generals weekly. Duties required routine interactions with US, Allied, and Partner Nation Officers. Responded timely to all requests for information, regularly updated standard operating procedures, and provided essential and consistent reports to superior officers.

Conducted full-time research in Professor David Kranz’s Immunology lab. Post-Baccalaureate research focused on two projects involving the immune targeting of somatic mutations expressed in cancer cells. Developed a rapid, high-throughput method for measuring the stability of neoantigen peptide/HLA-A2 complexes, which will help to identify which mutated proteins in a patient’s cancer can best serve as antigenic targets (called neoantigens) for T cells to destroy cancer. Graduate research focused on engineering Class I MHC molecules to break T cell tolerance in cancer, and characterization of engineered Class I MHC for use in dendritic cell vaccines.

Deployed to Afghanistan with the 1-178 Infantry Battalion, in support of Operation Resolute Support and Operation Freedom's Sentinel. Assigned as the Task Force medical operations officer, with the additional duty as a Medical Platoon Leader, in a Headquarters and Headquarters Company. Served as the Officer in Charge of a Role I/II medical treatment facility with 19 medics and a damage control surgical team, which supported over 800 U.S. military and 600 Civilians. Responsible for the training and development of a 39-Soldier Medical Platoon.

Selected by Cadet Command to serve for three months as a recruiting officer for Fighting Illini Army ROTC. Conducted recruiting operations, helped to sustain daily operations for the ROTC detachment, and prepared incoming Cadets for the fall 2016 semester. Successfully recruited over 50 incoming Cadets, which is the most in over 10 years.

As the Battalion Operations Officer: planned, coordinated, and supervised all training events in the Army ROTC program. Published planning documents that created shared understanding among leaders and subordinates and fostered a positive learning environment. As the Battalion Commander: served as overall individual in charge of the welfare of 80 Cadets. Overall: learned to lead and work in a team environment, motivate peers, leaders, and subordinates, and maintain both physical and mental toughness. As a Cadet in C Co 634th Medical Company, has served over a year as a Platoon Leader in charge of 34-36 Soldiers.

Assisted three Chemistry sections (totaling 84 students) in conducting weekly laboratory experiments. Acquired and calibrated materials prior to each section's arrival and walked around during lab to ensure mutual understanding of all material. Acted as first-line safety officer in event of spills, breaks, explosions, etc.

Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology Minor: Chemistry