Andrew Del Gaudio
U.S. Marine Corps, 1993 – 2019
Dr. Andrew Del Gaudio is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer and educator whose career spans over two decades of distinguished service and leadership. Born in 1975 in New York, Del Gaudio attended Valley Forge Military Academy before enlisting in the Marine Corps. After earning a history degree from Villanova University in 1997, he commissioned as an infantry officer and began a career marked by operational excellence and mentorship. He served in diverse roles, from platoon commander at Camp Lejeune to advisor with the Saudi Arabian National Guard, and deployed extensively during the Global War on Terror. His combat tours included Haiti, Fallujah, and Ramadi—where he was wounded in 2006 during intense fighting. Later, he led advisory missions in Afghanistan alongside Georgian forces and contributed to strategic planning at the Pentagon and in Europe during the Ukraine crisis. Del Gaudio earned a Ph.D. in history, channeling his experiences into scholarship and teaching. Since retiring in 2019 as a lieutenant colonel, he has served as Executive Director of the Center for Leadership at the University of West Florida, focusing on leadership development and veteran transition. His life reflects a commitment to service, education, and preparing future leaders for complex challenges.
Full Interview
Interview Summary
Access the complete transcript here
Introduction (0:46 – 2:26)
Enlisted First, Then Commissioned (2:26 – 18:06)
Early Assignments and Tour as an Advisor in Saudi Arabia (18:06 – 22:45)
9/11 and Training for the New War (22:45 – 31:56)
Deployments to Haiti and Fallujah (31:56 – 38:10)
Wounded in Ramadi in 2006 (38:10 – 54:24)
Arlington and Memorial Day Every Day (54:24 – 1:00:07)
Making Meaning Through History (1:00:07 – 1:08:11)
Back on the Horse: Returning to Iraq (1:08:11 – 1:10:09)
Reading, Writing, and Recovery (1:10:09 – 1:12:23)
Georgia and Afghanistan (1:12:23 – 1:22:06)
Iraq and Afghanistan: Two Totally Different Wars (1:22:06 – 1:28:00)
Poppy, Coercion, and the “Growing Season” (1:28:00 – 1:30:57)
Working for the Pentagon (1:30:57 – 1:33:09)
Leading and Teaching at the University of West Florida (1:33:09 – 1:36:59)
Advice to Young People (1:36:59 – 1:39:15)
