Areas of Expertise

• High North
• Maritime Security
• Strategy

Academic Degrees

• PhD Candidate, University of Maryland
• MA International Security Studies, Georgetown University
• Masters of Engineering Management, Old Dominion University
• BS Political Science, US Naval Academy

Cmdr. Rachael Gosnell is a European Foreign Area Officer and Navy Strategist, with academic and operational expertise in maritime security, strategy, and the High North region. She graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2001 with a BS in Political Science, with honors, and a Spanish minor. As a Surface Warfare Officer, she served onboard USS SHILOH (CG-67), U.S.S. HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN-75), and as the Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer onboard U.S.S. STOCKDALE (DDG 106).

While ashore, Cmdr. Gosnell was stationed at Naval Support Activity La Maddalena, Italy and at the Pentagon, where she served in OPNAV 513 Strategy and Policy and as Speechwriter for the 30th Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Greenert. She taught in the Political Science Department at the U.S. Naval Academy, where she served on the Admissions Board and as the Humanities/Social Sciences Division Senior Academic Adviser, and was elected to the Faculty Senate.

As a European Foreign Affairs Officer, she served as a country desk officer at Commander Naval Forces Europe in Naples, Italy before being selected by Adm. Foggo to serve as Speechwriter and in the Commander’s Action Group for the Commander, Naval Forces Europe – Africa and Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples. She also served in the Commander’s Action Group for the next Commander, Admiral Burke. She was selected as the Assistant Naval Attaché, U.S. Embassy Moscow and completed Russian language training.

Cmdr. Gosnell is a doctoral candidate in International Security and Economic Policy at the University of Maryland, with a focus on U.S. Arctic strategy and the implications for Arctic security dilemma dynamics. A Navy Strategist, she earned a Masters in International Security Studies from Georgetown University through the Navy’s Politico-Military Master’s Program. She also holds a Masters of Engineering Management from Old Dominion University. She has published numerous articles examining Arctic security and has presented at conferences in the U.S., Iceland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.

Cmdr. Gosnell was honored to receive a Meritorious Service Medal from the Secretary of the Navy for her work on the 2021 Department of the Navy Arctic Blueprint. Other awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2), Joint Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (4), Navy Achievement Medal (2), Top Gunner Award, Navy League Award, and various campaign and unit awards. She served on the U.S. Naval Institute Editorial Board for six years, where she was elected both Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board.