Gary Espinas

Gary Espinas is an Adjunct Instructor in the Political Science Department at the US Naval Academy. Prior to this role, Mr. Espinas served in the US Army and retired as a Colonel in 2013 after 26 years of service. As a Foreign Area Officer (FAO), Mr. Espinas served as Military Professor of National Security Affairs and FAO Chair at the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California; Director for Russia, Caucasus, and Black Sea Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon; Conventional Arms Control Advisor in the Department of State; and Political-Military Officer at the US Embassy in Moscow, Russian Federation. Previously, Mr. Espinas led field artillery formations at the tactical level, including a combat deployment to Iraq.

 Mr. Espinas earned an MA from Harvard University and a BA from the University of California at Berkeley. He also earned an MA in Security Studies degree from the US Army War College. Mr. Espinas is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Liberal Studies degree from Georgetown University. He speaks Russian and Spanish.