Biography

LCDR Joanna M. Gonzales (O'Neill Chapter) was born and raised in Washington, D.C. She attended Creighton University in Omaha, NE and graduated with a B.A. in English and Philosophy.

LCDR Gonzales worked for the Institute for Justice, and later the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration prior to entering law school. She attended Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where she specialized in Maritime and International Law.

In law school she was a member of the Maritime Law Journal, Vice President of Loyola's International Law Society, and participated in Loyola's Comparative Law Summer Program in San Jose, Costa Rica. As an active member of the Hispanic Law Society, she assisted with organizing the National Latina/o Law Conference in New Orleans. 

During her three years at Loyola New Orleans, LCDR Gonzales worked as a law clerk for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. She clerked for the Navy JAG Corps during the summer with Code 14 - General Litigation.

In May 2012, LCDR Gonazles graduated from law school and reported to ODS in August 2012 and Naval Justice School in October 2012. In December 2012, she reported to RLSO Japan to complete her first tour. There she worked in Command Services, Trial, Legal Assistance, Defense Service Office Pacific and as an SJA at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY). Before leaving Japan, she had the opportunity to deploy on the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON assisting the Strike Group Staff Judge Advocate for Commander Task Force-70.

From December 2014 to August 2016, LCDR Gonzales worked as the Assistant SJA for the United States Navel Academy Superintendent managing USNA's Military Justice, Honor/Conduct cases and FOIA/Privacy Act portfolio. LCDR Gonzales reported to RLSO Hawaii in August 2016, where she was assigned as the SJA for Join Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Pacific Missile Range Facility until May 2018. During the summer of 2018, she participated in RIMPAC onboard the HMAS ADELAIDE working for CTF-176. She completed her tour in HI as the Command Services Assistant Department Head, Special Assistant to the United States Attorney for RLSO Hawaii, and filled a critical manning gap as the Navy Region Hawaii SJA.

From 2019-202, she spent the year in Korea as the Force Judge Advocate for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea and Commander, Navy Region Korea supporting ROK-US alliance, USFK, C7F and PACFLT. From 2020-2022, LCDR Gonzales served as the senior SJA for NSWG-10 and the newly formed NSWG-9, supporting world-wide SRO and undersea missions. In August 2022, she reported to DoD OGC (I).

Her personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards), Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Korea Defense Service Medal, and Military Outstanding Service Medal.