COL John "J." Gowel, USA

Military Instructor

Colonel John J. Gowel, U.S. Army, serves as a member of the faculty at the Dwight D. Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington D.C. He is a member of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

Prior to his current assignment he served as a member of the Office of General Counsel (Intelligence), Department of Defense.  He has recently served as a Branch Chief, U.S. Army Litigation Division, and Chief of International and Operational Law, United States Army Europe.  He has advised commanders and staff at all levels of command up to and including at the Department of Defense level.  He served two years with the Department of Justice as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Civil Division, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Washington, D.C. 

Colonel Gowel has operational experience as the Chief of Operational and International Law, Multinational Division – Baghdad (4th Infantry Division), and as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, 1st Theater Sustainment Command.  In these roles he advised on plans, operations, humanitarian efforts, and force sustainment requirements and the application of domestic, host nation, and international law.

Colonel Gowel is married to Colonel Kate Gowel, and they have four children, Matt (18), Sam (15), Annie (11), and Joey (9).