Commander Mark Gaouette (USNR-Ret)
Cruise Bruise Guest Author
Biography
Cdr. Mark Gaouette (USNR-Ret.)
Cruise Bruise Guest Author
Biography
Commander Mark Gaouette (USNR-Ret.) is a maritime security consultant to the Department of Homeland Security. As the former Director of Security for Princess Cruises and Cunard Cruise Lines, he oversaw the implementation of the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Codes and the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) regulations on Princess cruise ships and port of calls worldwide. He pioneered the deployment of the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRADs) on cruise ships to repel pirates.
Mark is a former Special Agent of the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS) and served as a Regional Security Officer (RSO) at U.S. embassies including Moscow, Beirut, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Yemen.
As a reserve naval intelligence officer, he served with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) during Operation Enduring Freedom as a Force Protection Officer. Mark served as a Naval Intelligence Reserve Officer for over twenty years and saw active duty as a Surface Warfare Officer onboard the USS TARAWA, LHA-1. Well versed in maritime security issues, Mark earned his Surface Warfare Officer designation standing shipboard watches as officer of the deck, combat information center watch officer and engineering officer of the watch during his active duty aboard the USS Tarawa.
In his capacity as the Director of Security with Princess Cruises, Mark was responsible for security operations for their fleet of 16 Princess cruise ships carrying primarily American and British passengers calling on over 250 ports worldwide including the Middle East, North, East and West Africa, Mediterranean, Asia, Caribbean, Alaska and Hawaii.
As a civilian special agent with the Department of State, he has served in a variety of domestic and overseas assignments including Diplomatic Security Service Headquarters at the Department of State in Washington D.C. Mark holds numerous service medals and commendations from the Navy, including the Navy/Marine Achievement Medal and the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, earned for force protection support to Operation "Enduring Freedom" in 2003. He is fluent in Spanish and Russian.
Cdr. Mark Gaouette is the author of the book Cruising for Trouble: Cruise Ships as Soft Targets for Pirates, Terrorists, and Common Criminals published in March, 2010 by Praeger Publishing."
