Lanneau Brings Decades of Real World Experience to Forensics, Criminal Justice Programs

John Lanneau has law enforcement written all over him, and rightly so. He brought nearly three decades of field and laboratory experience when he joined Piedmont University last year. 

Lanneau is a Professor of Forensic Science and Criminal Justice at Piedmont's Demorest campus and the Director of the Georgia Forensic Academy. Piedmont offers undergraduate degrees in forensic science and criminal justice and recently added a graduate degree in forensic science. 

Lanneau keeps to the facts about most things, especially himself. He will, however, brag on Piedmont and its students. 

“The level of intellect and aptitude that these students have is something I've been impressed with. For the forensic science and criminal justice students and students in general, I am very, very impressed,” Lanneau said. “I've been so impressed that I've convinced my daughter (Julia), a transferring junior, to come to Piedmont.” 

The younger Lanneau was most recently at Georgia Military College. Professor Lanneau was an adjunct on the Warner Robins satellite campus for 18 years.

Military service figures prominently in Lanneau's background. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was trained as a signals analyst. Lanneau's Air Force career took him from stateside assignments to Italy and the National Security Agency. He also joined the National Guard, attended Officer Candidate School, and graduated from the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Ft. Moore. 

During this period, Lanneau worked as a police officer, crime scene investigator, and fingerprint examiner with the Warner Robins Police Department. Lanneau used the GI Bill to earn his undergraduate degree and completed his graduate degree while working in law enforcement. Lanneau is also working toward completing his PhD and is in the “all but dissertation” phase of the program.

Next up for Lanneau was the Vermont Forensic Lab. As Physical Comparison Supervisor, he oversaw the fingerprint, firearms, tool marks, and photography sections. He was also on the state's crime scene team. He took the knowledge he gained back in Vermont to Warner Robins and built a lab that received the ISO 17025 accreditation in blood alcohol and firearms and tool marks. Lanneau retired as Lab Director/Division Commander and was multi-disciplined in fingerprints, footwear, firearms, and tool marks.

Lanneau's expertise made him the perfect choice to be the first-ever director of the Georgia Forensic Academy, a limited-purpose academy at Piedmont's Demorest campus offering advanced forensic science courses to law enforcement professionals, civilians who perform forensic examinations, and university students who aspire to be in the forensic science and criminal justice fields.

“Not only can we offer our law enforcement neighbors training that they may not be able to get as readily as they'd like to get, but we can also provide some of that same training to the students,” Lanneau said. “We have a great opportunity and a good foundation.”

New cameras, scanners, lasers, microscopes, and other essential tools purchased over the summer demonstrate the university's commitment to ensuring the latest technology in crime scene analysis is available to all. Faculty members teaching in the program all have law enforcement experience.

“It makes sense that if you have people who have worked in the field, they understand what it takes to do the job,” Lanneau said. “Support from the administration and faculty is high. They want to see the program succeed. We are building a strong team with practical experience and academic knowledge.

“With support from the administration for the resources that we need and students excited to learn about more than just what you see on TV — that's what we're here for.”

Learn more about Piedmont University's undergraduate criminal justice program and the undergraduate and graduate-level forensic science programs on our website.