Patrick (Pat) Gambrel - Institute for Security Governance
Faculty
Education & Professional Practice

Faculty
Education & Professional Practice
Dr. Patrick Gambrel joined the Institute for Security Governance (ISG) in April 2018 as a member of the International Defense Acquisition Resource Management (IDARM) team and Senior Lecturer within Education & Professional Practice (EPP). Dr. Gambrel works with partner nations on Institutional Capacity Building (ICB), specifically in acquisition.
Prior to joining the IDARM team, Dr. Gambrel also provided part-time support to the program as a Subject Matter Expert. He has been supporting the program since 2008. Prior to entering government, Dr. Gambrel spent 35 years in the defense industry at Pratt & Whitney Military Engines that included 17 years of international defense acquisition experience in support of US security assistance and cooperation initiatives. His most recent position was the Deputy Director of Business Development & International Programs.
In his current role as a Senior Lecturer for ISG, Dr. Gambrel implements defense acquisition-related workshops to international military organizations worldwide in support of US security assistance and cooperation initiatives to build partner capacity and capabilities. He develops and presents learning module topic lectures in the disciplines of Defense Acquisition Management, Defense Industry, Project Management, Logistics and Life Cycle Management, Risk Management, International Negotiations, and Ethics and Integrity. In his role as Deputy Director of Business Development & International Programs, he supported US security assistance and cooperation initiatives through providing advocacy and support to Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) F-35 international partner nations, providing support to JSF F-35 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) sales initiatives, providing support to F-16 and C-17 FMS initiatives, and implementing new FMS programs and existing FMS sustainment programs to build US partner capability and ensure readiness. Dr. Gambrel also led the International Programs team of regional and country managers in the implementation and support of fighter engine programs with international Air Forces. He was responsible for leading and meeting organizational quality metrics, and developed and maintained International Program Management standard work. He was also an Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Associate. Prior to this position, Dr. Gambrel served in Program Management, Business Development, Strategic Management, and Engineering roles. He also taught graduate level International Business courses for the University of New Haven and Southern New Hampshire University.
Dr. Gambrel holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati, a Master and Doctorate in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University, and a Master of Arts in International Affairs from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University. He is also a graduate of the Executive Program in Corporate Strategy from the MIT Sloan School of Management and the Advanced Program Management Course from the Defense Acquisition University.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- Defense Acquisition
- Defense Logistics
- Ethics & Leadership
- International Negotiations