Brian A. Gottschall, Jr. is a native of Stockbridge, GA.  After completing high school and a year of college, Sergeant Major Gottschall enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in February of 2003.  Private First Class Gottschall completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, SC in May, 2003.  Private First Class Gottschall then reported to Marine Combat Training (MCT) at Camp LeJeune, NC. 

Private First Class Gottschall, after successfully completing MCT, reported to Data Network Specialist School at the Marine Corps Communications Electronics School (MCCES) located in 29 Palms, CA.  After completing three months of Data Network Systems training Private First Class Gottschall graduated in September, 2003 as a Data Network Specialist (0651). 

Private First Class Gottschall was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 42 (MAG-42) in Marietta, GA from September 2003 until January 2004 where he conducted monthly training during the time period.  In January, 2004 Private First Class Gottschall was promoted to Lance Corporal and was activated and temporarily assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16) in Miramar, CA in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004.  After arriving in Miramar, CA, Lance Corporal Gottschall was deployed to Al Asad, Iraq where he served as a Data Network Systems Specialist from February until September, 2004.  Upon returning to Miramar, Lance Corporal Gottschall remained attached to MAG-16 and was promoted to the rank of Corporal in May 2005 before returning to MAG-16. 

May, 2005 Corporal Gottschall was detached from MAG-16 and returned to Marietta, GA where he remained for four months.  In August of 2005, Corporal Gottschall was attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 774 (HMM-774) located in Norfolk, VA.  After a month of pre-deployment work Corporal Gottschall deployed with HMM-774 in September to Al Asad, Iraq where he remained until April 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  While deployed to Iraq, Corporal Gottschall received a meritorious combat promotion January 2, 2006 to the rank of Sergeant.

After returning from Iraq in April 2006, Sergeant Gottschall was detached from HMM-774 and again returned to MAG-42 in Marietta, GA where he served as a Data Network Administrator until being demobilized in August 2006.  Sergeant Gottschall remained attached to MAG-42 as a reservists and continued to work with the Group as the Data Network Administrator Non Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) until the MAG-42 was decommissioned in 2008.

In 2008, upon the decommissioning of MAG-42, Sergeant Gottschall was reassigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 (HMLA-773) located in Marietta, GA where he served as the Data Network Chief.  In September, 2009 Sergeant Gottschall was promoted to Staff Sergeant.

In April, 2010 Staff Sergeant Gottschall was reactivated and mobilized to Marietta, GA in order to assist with the Base Closure and Realignment which moved HMM-773 from Marietta, GA to Warner Robins, GA.  During this period of activation Staff Sergeant Gottschall was responsible to ensure that all Data Network, Radio and Telephony equipment organic to HMLA-773 was accurately and safely relocated from Marietta, GA to Warner Robins, GA.  In October 2010 Staff Sergeant Gottschall reported to Camp Upshur, Quantico, VA where he completed the United States Marine Corps Marksmanship Instructor's school.  Upon graduation from the Marksmanship school Staff Sergeant Gottschall attained the MOS of Combat Marksmanship Instructor (0931) and of Combat Marksmanship Coach (0933).

Staff Sergeant Gottschall continued to serve HMLA-773 as the Data Network Chief while also became the S-2/Intelligence section's Staff Non Commissioned Officer in Charge in the absence of an S-2/Intel SNCO.  Staff Sergeant Gottschall served as the HMLA-773 Data Network Chief and the S-2/Intel SNCOIC as well as acted as the Headquarters Company Gunnery Sergeant until 2013.

In January, 2013 Staff Sergeant Gottschall joined Communications Company (Comm Co), Headquarters and Service Battalion (H&S Bn), Combat Logistics Regiment (CLR) 45 located in Greensboro, NC.  Upon his initial join to the Company, Staff Sergeant Gottschall held the billet of Data Chief until April, 2013, when he became the Company Gunnery Sergeant.  While serving as the Company Gunnery Sergeant for Communications Company, H&S Bn, a unit realignment was conducted and the Communications Company was realigned directly under CLR-45.  In October, 2013 Staff Sergeant Gottschall was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant.

After serving as Company Gunnery Sergeant for a period of two years, Gunnery Sergeant Gottschall returned to the Cyber Platoon where he served as Cyber Chief.  In April, 2016 Gunnery Sergeant Gottschall became the Company Operations Chief, a position he served in until August 2017, when he transferred units.  Gunnery Sergeant Gottschall was awarded a Navy Commendation Medal for his performance while with the Comm Co, CLR-45.

In August, 2017 Gunnery Sergeant Gottschall transferred from the Comm Co, CLR-45 and joined Communications Company, 14th Marine Regiment (MarReg), 4th Marine Division (MarDiv), located in Cincinnati, Ohio.  While at Comm Co, 14th MarReg, Gunnery Sergeant Gottschall was the Cyber/Systems Platoon Chief while also assisting the Operations Chief with planning for future Company-wide training evolutions.  In early 2018, Gunnery Sergeant Gottschall was selected for the rank of First Sergeant.

Following selection to First Sergeant in March, 2018, Gunnery Sergeant Gottschall was promoted in May 2018 and transferred to serve as the First Sergeant of Maintenance Company, Combat Logistic Battalion 451.  After serving for three years as the First Sergeant of Maintenance Company, which was comprised of over 500 Marines located at six different geographically dispersed locations, First Sergeant Gottschall was re-assigned as the First Sergeant for Rifle Company Lima, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines where he served as the Company First Sergeant until selection and promotion to Sergeant Major in May, 2022.

Following his promotion to Sergeant Major in 2022, Sergeant Major Gottschall was assigned as the Battalion Sergeant Major for 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group in Portland, Oregon.

Sergeant Major Gottschall's personal awards include 2 Navy Commendation Medals and 2 Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.

Sergeant Major Gottschall holds a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Information Systems from Strayer University (2009) and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Liberty University (2019).