Donald Gabrielson
# Donald Gabrielson

Donald Dean Gabrielson (born 1966) is a retired United States Navy rear admiral and surface warfare officer who last served as the 10th commander of the United States Naval Forces Southern Command and United States Fourth Fleet from May 21, 2019 to September 3, 2021.

## History

Previously, he served as the commander of Carrier Strike Group 11 from June 2018 to May 2019, with tours as commander of Task Force 73 and Logistics Group Western Pacific from August 2016 to June 2018, 12th commander of USS Cape St. George (CG-71) from May 2011 to February 2013, as well as being the first commanding officer of USS Freedom (LCS-1) from September 2006 to March 2009. He was promoted to rear admiral effective August 1, 2019.

## Education

A native of Minnesota, Gabrielson graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1989, and earned a Master of Science degree in operations research from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1995, and a master's degree from the National War College in 2005.

## Awards and decorations

Surface Warfare Officer Pin :

| Navy Distinguished Service Medal ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Defense Superior Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Legion of Merit with two award stars | Legion of Merit with two award stars | Defense Meritorious Service Medal | Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
| Meritorious Service Medal with three award stars | Meritorious Service Medal with three award stars | Joint Service Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster | Joint Service Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal |
| Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal | Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation | Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation | Navy Unit Commendation | Navy Unit Commendation |
| Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with two bronze service stars | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with two bronze service stars | Navy "E" Ribbon, 4th award | Navy "E" Ribbon, 4th award | National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star | National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star |
| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two bronze service stars | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two bronze service stars | Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star | Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal |
| Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver service star | Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver service star | Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon | Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon |
| Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) | Navy Expert Rifleman Medal | Navy Expert Rifleman Medal | Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal | Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal |
| Command at Sea insignia ||||||
| Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge ||||||
