First Sergeant Gonzales enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on March 19, 2001, from Visalia, California. He began his military journey by completing Recruit Training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, followed by the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, California. Upon graduation, he attended Field Artillery Cannoneer School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, earning the 0811 Military Occupational Specialty (MOS).
First Sergeant Gonzales was then stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, where he joined Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marines. During his time with 1/12, he participated in numerous field exercises, deployments, and was assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). In 2004, he deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, with Battalion Landing Team 1/3, Regimental Combat Team 7, in support of Operation Phantom Fury. During this combat operation, he served in key leadership roles as a Gun Chief and Squad Leader, leading Marines during patrols, ambushes, and Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT).
In January 2008, First Sergeant Gonzales was selected for Marine Combat Instructor School at the School of Infantry West. There, he served as a Combat Marksmanship Instructor for the Mobilization Training Battalion and later as Chief Instructor for the Advanced Infantry Training Battalion's Combat Hunter Program. As one of the program’s pioneers, he helped develop the curriculum that became integral to the Marine Corps' training doctrine, contributing over 1,000 hours of instructor time and facilitating the training of numerous infantry and non-infantry units.
In 2012, he was assigned as a Tactical Analyst for the Infantry Immersion Trainer at Camp Pendleton, California, where he was instrumental in scenario-based training exercises, preparing thousands of Marines for real-world operations involving Afghan personnel, pyrotechnics, and simunition. In June 2014, First Sergeant Gonzales served as the Academic Advisor for the Mobilization Training Battalion Headquarters Company, later moving to MCI West Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as Operations Chief for the base G-3/5.
In the summer of 2018, First Sergeant Gonzales returned to the School of Infantry as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the Mobilization Training Battalion. In this capacity, he led and mentored a team of Combat Instructors, overseeing operations, logistics, finance, and administration.
On April 2023, First Sergeant Gonzales served as the Detachment First Sergeant for MWCS-48, MACG-48, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. He now serves as the Headquarters and Support Company First Sergeant for 4th LAR, Camp Pendleton Ca.
First Sergeant Gonzales earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Redlands and a masters degree in business administration (MBA) from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business.
First Sergeant Gonzales’ personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and the Combat Instructors Ribbon.