CAPTAIN KRISTEN GABEL

Marine Officer Instructor

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Captain Gabel was born August 11, 1989 in Mobile, AL. She attended The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology.  Upon graduating she taught Elementary Physical Education until ultimately deciding to join the Marine Corps.  She attended Officer Candidates School in June 2015 and successfully commissioned in August 2015.  After commissioning, Second Lieutenant Gabel attended The Basic School, Quantico, VA and then attended Basic Logistics Officer School, Camp Johnson, NC, graduating in June 2016.

In July 2016, Second Lieutenant Gabel reported to 3d Maintenance Battalion where she served as the Battalion Assistant Operations Officer and Training Officer.  In August 2017, she led a detachment of Marines to conduct exercise ULCHI FREEDOM GUARDIAN in Camp Mujuk, Korea in support of Maritime Prepositioning Force Operations.  Upon her return in September 2017 and promotion to First Lieutenant, she took command of Engineer Maintenance Company.

In June 2018, First Lieutenant Gabel reported to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, CA, as the Battalion Assistant Logistics Officer.  In September 2018, the Battalion composited as Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit deploying in May 2019 as part of WESTPAC 19.2.

In February 2020, Captain Gabel reported to Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, where she served as the Assistant Logistics Officer.  In June 2020, she assumed duties as Battalion Logistics Officer and S-4 Officer in Charge.

In May 2021, Captain Gabel was selected for and reported to her current position as Marine Officer Instructor at Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Unit Los Angeles Consortium.

Captain Gabel’s personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal as well as the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star.

She currently resides in Los Angeles with her dog Shandy and cat Tiger.