Lieutenant Colonel Andrea N. Gulliksen is the Commanding Officer of Security and Emergency Services Battalion, Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.
A native of Camano Island, Washington, Lt. Col. Gulliksen enlisted in the Marine Corps following high school in 1997 and completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. Following Marine combat Training and Military Police School, she was assigned to the Provost Marshal's Office, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where she served in a variety of billets, including platoon sergeant.
In August of 2001, Sgt. Gulliksen was transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, where she served as a platoon commander with the station Provost Marshal’s Office. During this tour, she graduated from Park University with a Bachelor of Science in Social Psychology and in 2004 Staff Sgt. Gulliksen was selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Program and commissioned as a second lieutenant after graduating Officer Candidates School, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.
Following completion of The Basic School and the Military Police Officer Course, she was assigned to Combat Service Support Detachment-21, MCAS Cherry Point and served as a platoon commander and operations officer of the Provost Marshal’s Office.
In October 2005, she was reassigned to 2nd Military Police Battalion, 2nd Force Service Support Group, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and deployed as a platoon commander in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this tour she also deployed to Iraq with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing as the anti-terrorism officer.
In May 2008, 1st Lt. Gulliksen was selected for the Special Education Program and completed her master’s degree from the University of Maryland in Organizational Leadership. She was subsequently assigned as the 19th Company Officer at the U.S. Naval Academy.
In August, 2011, Capt. Gulliksen was assigned to Expeditionary Warfare School and graduated with distinction, earning the Pete Ellis Leadership Award.
In June of 2012, Capt. Gulliksen reported to 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, where she served as a company commander and operations officer. In 2013, she deployed to Afghanistan with 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment serving as both the operations officer and executive officer.
In May 2014 she was assigned to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command where she served as the CENTCOM plans officer, Regional Operations, Plans and Policy. From June 2016 to June 2019, she served as the Provost Marshal at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. In 2019, she attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College. Upon graduation, she was assigned as the executive officer, Security and Emergency Services Battalion and in April, 2022 she assumed her current position.
Her personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (second award), the Army Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (fourth award).