Biography: Colonel Nicole Gabriel, '92

Biography: Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Nicole Gabriel

Lieutenant Colonel Retired Nicole Gabriel was commissioned in 1992 through The Ohio State University Reserve Officers Training Corps. Upon commissioning as a 2nd Lieutenant in Air Defense Artillery, her first active duty assignment was as a Platoon Leader working with the PATRIOT missile system in 2-43 ADA, 108th ADA Brigade, Ft. Polk, LA. While on Active Duty she deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Southern Watch in 1993-1994 and then again in 1994 on a rapid deployment. She also served on Brigade staff in an Airborne slot. 

Lieutenant Colonel Retired Gabriel served seven years in the North Carolina and Ohio Army National Guard as a reserve member. In 2004 she re-entered Active Duty with the Ohio Army National Guard. She served as a Battalion S3 and XO for the newly formed 1-174 ADA Avenger Cincinnati OH. In 2006, she deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and assisted in managing Camp Buehring, one of the largest U.S. military bases in the Middle East, during the surge.

From 2007 to 2014 LTC Retired Gabriel served in various staff assignments in the 174th ADA Brigade and Joint Force Headquarters, Ohio Army National Guard. In 2014, Lieutenant Colonel Retired Gabriel took command of 1-174 ADA Battalion and was the first female to command an Avenger Missile Battalion in support of Operation Noble Eagle protecting the National Capital Region. Her final assignment was as the Assistant Chief of Staff for the Ohio Army National Guard, an organization of 11,000. She retired on Sept. 1, 2019 after 27 years of active and reserve service. 

Lieutenant Colonel Retired Nicole Gabriel is married to Lieutenant Colonel Retired Joe Gabriel a Veteran of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. They have two boys, Ian, a 2024 graduate of The Ohio State University, and Alex, a junior at Ohio University. 

Lieutenant Colonel Retired Gabriel completed a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health counseling at the University of Dayton. She is currently a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Veteran Services Coordinator and Chief Clinical Officer at The Recovery Center in Lancaster, OH. She also provides counseling support to the Fairfield County Municipal Court Veterans Treatment court, serving justice involved Veterans. In her free time, she serves on the Ohio Department of Veteran Services Women’s Advisory Committee and on the Seton Parish Council in Pickerington. 

Awards: MSM (4) ARCOM (2) USAF Commendation Medal AAM (3) Joint Meritorious Unit Award Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (4) National Defense Service Medal (2) Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Service Star Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Army Service Ribbon Overseas Service Ribbon Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (2) Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device and 20 year Silver Hourglass, Parachutist Badge.