Capt. Joseph A. Gagliano
Captain, United States Navy
10 March 2021
Captain Joseph A. Gagliano is a surface warfare officer, naval strategist, and politico-
military specialist.
In the surface warfare community, he commanded USS INDEPENDENCE (LCS 2), served
as the Combat Systems Officer and Weapons Control Officer onboard USS COLE (DDG
67), and served as the Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, Communications Officer,
Auxiliaries Officer and Strike Officer onboard USS LABOON (DDG 58).
Within the naval strategy and politico-military communities, Captain Gagliano served as
the Director for Defense Policy and Strategy for the National Security Council at the White
House. He also served as a strategist on the Joint Staff in the Asia Political-Military Affairs
Directorate. On the Navy Staff, he served as the strategic planning team leader for N00X,
strategic planning team leader for the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, and strategic
planner in N3/N5 Deep Blue.
Captain Gagliano holds a PhD and master’s degree in international relations from The
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where he studied international
political theory and security studies. He holds a master’s degree in national security and
strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College and a bachelor’s degree from the U.S.
Naval Academy. He was awarded visiting fellowships with St. Antony’s College and
Pembroke College at Oxford University. Captain Gagliano is the author of three research
books: Between Allied and Alone: Alliance Decision-Making Factors in the South China
Sea (Routledge, 2019), Shiphandling Fundamentals for the Littoral Combat Ship and New
Frigates (Naval Institute Press, 2015), and Congressional Policymaking in Sino-U.S.
Relations during the Post-Cold War Era (Routledge, 2014).