Gemma McGowan

Gemma McGowan

Gemma McGowan is a U.S. Army Captain Veteran, and currently a Department of Defense Army Civilian working overseas in Germany but hails from New Jersey.

Gemma holds a M.S. in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University and a B.A. in American Studies from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. She also attended a post graduate seminar class at the Harvard University, Kennedy School and a Leader Development Program at the Center for Creative Leadership in Brussels, Belgium.

Gemma received a Bronze Star Medal for her leadership and actions in Baghdad, Iraq. She was the first female VFW Post Commander for VFW Post 27, Watch on the Rhine in Wiesbaden, Germany. She also volunteers as the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Chapter President of the General C.W. Abrams Chapter in Wiesbaden, Germany where she leads 2,000 members.

“In my book I share how I went from a suburban town in northern New Jersey to leading soldiers and finding my flowers in Baghdad,” said McGowan, who earned a Bronze Star Medal for her leadership and actions while in Baghdad. “Finding the positives in all situations, or the flowers.”