Lieutenant Colonel Rachel Gonzales graduated from the University of Rochester, Rochester, New York with a degree in Political Science in May 2005.  Upon graduation, she attended The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia and proceeded on to the Logistics Officer Course, Camp Johnson, North Carolina.  In the spring of 2006, Lieutenant Colonel Gonzales reported to Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, on Camp Foster, Okinawa. During this time she served throughout the pacific area of operations as the Squadron’s Motor Transportation Platoon Commander, Training Officer, and completed the Aviation Ground Support curriculum of Weapons and Tactics Instructor’s Course. Additionally, she served as the Squadron Logistics Officer during their 2008 Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment.  Following this tour, Lieutenant Colonel Gonzales was assigned to Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.  From 2009 through 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Gonzales completed non-resident Expeditionary Warfare School, served as the Battalion Logistics and Safety Officer, as well as the Headquarters and Services Company Commander.  In the summer of 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Gonzales checked into Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group and was immediately augmented to the I Marine Expeditionary Force and to serve as the G-4 Logistics Plans and Coalition Logistics Officer in support of Regional Command South West’s 2012 Operation Enduring Freedom deployment.  Throughout this deployment, Lieutenant Colonel Gonzales contributed to Phase II Personnel Surge Recovery, Base Realignment and Closure, and equipment Redeployment, Retrograde in support of Reset and Reconstitution efforts.  Upon returning to Combat Logistics Regiment 1, Lieutenant Colonel Gonzales served as both the Current and Future Operations Officers and the Regimental Sexual Assault Prevention Coordinator.  Lieutenant Colonel Gonzales was then selected by the Commandant’s Career Level Education Board to attend Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California where she graduated with a Master of Science in Operations Research.  Following Naval Postgraduate School, Lieutenant Colonel Gonzales received orders to serve as an Operations Research Analyst at Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps, Quantico, Virginia where she worked on various manpower talent management studies and innovation initiatives.  In the summer of 2020, Lieutenant Colonel Gonzales was assigned as the Executive Officer during the activation of 3d Landing Support Battalion, Camp Kinser, Okinawa.  Immediately following her time as a Lander, she was bestowed the honor of Commanding Officer, 3d Supply Battalion prior to its evolution into 3d Sustainment Group Experimental where she served as the Executive Officer. Lieutenant Colonel Gonzales’ personal awards include two Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.