Undersecretary, Operations
Lawrence D. Gonzales was appointed Undersecretary for Operations in the California Department of Veterans Affairs by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on July 26, 2011.
Gonzales was born in Pasadena, California to Sgt. Laurence Gonzales, USMCR, and Alice Gonzales. He attended Catholic schools through high school in the Sierra Madre/Pasadena area.
Gonzales comes from a family with a long history of serving in our nation's military. His grandfather served in the California Guard, his father fought in the battle for Iwo Jima and was awarded the Silver Star for bravery, his uncle served in the Korean War, and his son, Michael David, is a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and recently returned from his third tour in Afghanistan.
Gonzales began his military career in 1965, when he enlisted in the Marine Corps and graduated from Boot Camp, Marine Corps Recruiting Depot (MCRD), San Diego in September of that year. He trained as a Hawk Batteryman at Marine Corps Base (MCB) 29 Palms, California, prior to joining Delta Battery, 4th Light Anti-Air Missile Battalion (LAAM Bn), 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Pasadena, California. In 1972 he attended Officer Candidate School, accepted a commission as a second lieutenant United States Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR), and graduated from The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia in March 1973. Gonzales attained the rank of Colonel during his 38 years in the Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserves.
Gonzales was mobilized to active duty twice. His first mobilization was to the Persian Gulf War and served in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. His second mobilization was for Operation Noble Eagle/Operation Enduring Freedom after September 11, 2001. He has also served at Marine Corps Base Camp Smith, Hawaii and Headquarters Marine Corps, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia.
Upon completion of Basic Hawk Officers' Course at the US Army Air Defense School, Ft. Bliss, Texas, Gonzales served as Platoon Commander, Executive Officer, and Commanding Officer of Alpha Battery, 4th LAAMBn. Throughout his military career, Gonzales served in many additional distinctive positions, ranging from Platoon Commander to Equal Opportunity Officer of the Marine Corps and Advisor to the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps on Equal Opportunity Matters.
After graduating from Chapman University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration in 1968, while still in the Reserves, Gonzales went to work as a classroom teacher with the Los Angeles Unified School District. He subsequently returned to school and earned a Master of Arts degree in Education with a specialty in School Administration and Supervision in 1976. After receiving his California State School Administrator's credential, he served as Assistant Principal and then Principal in the Los Angeles Unified School District, being one of the youngest elementary school principals in the district at that time. Gonzales went on to serve as Principal at three elementary schools. In 2000, he earned his Juris Doctorate at Glendale University College of Law.
During his career in education, Gonzales served as President of the Assistant Principals' Association and the Mexican American Administrators' Association and served as a district representative of the California State Administrators Association. Gonzales has been elected twice to serve on the Board of Directors for the Marine Corps Reserve Officers' Association. Gonzales currently serves on the Military Support Committee for the City of Laguna Niguel.
Since his retirement from the Los Angeles Unified School District in 2000, he has served on active duty at HQ Marine Corps as Head, MPE (Equal Opportunity) Branch, Manpower & Reserve Affairs. Gonzales is active with the California Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Committee.
Among Col Gonzales' numerous military awards and decorations are the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Achievement Award, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation w/star, Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal w/6 stars, National Defense Medal w/2 stars, Southwest Asia Medal w/2 stars, Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/gold device, Mobilization x 2, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), and Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait).
Mr. Gonzales is the father of three children, Lisa Marie, Assistant Production Manager for Channel 7, KABC Los Angeles; Michael David, Capt. US Marine Corps Reserve and also a Deputy Sheriff for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept.; and Laura Diane, a Manager at the Walt Disney Corporation.
Print Friendly Version