Gregory D. Gadson Biography: Age, Wife, Net Worth, Children, Parents, Career, Awards

Gregory D. Gadson is an American actor, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and retired U.S. Army colonel who rose to national prominence after a severe battlefield injury in 2007.

While commanding troops in Iraq, he lost both legs above the knee and suffered serious injuries to his right arm after striking an improvised explosive device.

Rather than retire, he continued active service, becoming the first bilateral amputee to command a major installation at Fort Belvoir in 2012.

Since transitioning from military life he has used his experience to inspire others through speaking, service, and creative pursuits—appearing on the big screen in Battleship and on TV in series like NCIS: Los Angeles.

Profile

• Full name: Gregory Dimitri Gadson
• Date of birth: February 19, 1966
• Age: 59 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Chesapeake, Virginia, U.S.
• State of origin: Virginia
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Army officer (retired), actor, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, photographer
• Eye color: Brown
• Hair color: Black
• Parents: His father served as Chief Pharmacist at Norfolk Community Hospital
• Siblings: N/A
• Spouse: Kimberly Gadson
• Children: Two children and four grandchildren
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: Devout Christian
• Ethnicity: African American
• Net worth: $5 million

Early Life and education

Gregory D. Gadson was born on February 19, 1966, in Chesapeake, Virginia.

He graduated from Indian River High School in 1985, where he was a standout football player and wrestler.

He then attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, earning a Bachelor of Science in 1989.

Gadson went on to earn a Master’s in Information Systems from Webster University and a Master’s in Policy Management from Georgetown University.

He also completed the Command and General Staff College and served as an Army War College Fellow at the Institute of World Politics in 2010.

Personal Life

Gadson is married to Kimberly Gadson, whom he met as a classmate at West Point; she served five years in the Army before becoming a schoolteacher and has been a steadfast support throughout his recovery and career.

Together they have two children and four grandchildren, whom he credits with providing strength and resilience that enable him to focus on his mission.

Career

Gregory Gadson served as a field artillery officer in the U.S. Army from 1989 to 2014.

His assignments included command of the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment and U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir, as well as serving as director of the Army Wounded Warrior Program in Alexandria, Virginia.

He was deployed in Operations Desert Shield/Storm, Joint Forge, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.

After surviving a catastrophic IED attack in Baghdad on May 7, 2007, that resulted in bilateral above-knee amputations and an injured arm, he leveraged advanced prosthetic technologies to return to active duty.

In 2012, he made history as the first double amputee to command Fort Belvoir.

Following retirement in 2014, he became a motivational speaker, entrepreneur (managing partner of Patriot Strategies, LLC), photographer, and actor—making his film debut as Lieutenant Colonel Mick Canales in Peter Berg’s Battleship (2012), and appearing in TV roles like The Inspectors and NCIS: Los Angeles.

Awards

• Distinguished Service Medal
• Legion of Merit (2)
• Bronze Star (3)
• Purple Heart
• Meritorious Service Medal (3)
• Army Commendation Medal (3)
• Army Achievement Medal (4)
• National Defense Service Medal (2)
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3)
• Southwest Asia Service Medal (3)
• Afghanistan Campaign Medal
• Iraq Campaign Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
• NATO Medal (Yugoslavia)
• Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia & Kuwait)
• Combat Action Badge
• Master Parachutist Badge
• Henry Viscardi Achievement Award (2017)
• 2022 George C. Marshall Award in Ethical Leadership

Net worth

Gregory D. Gadson net worth is estimated at approximately $5 million, accumulated from military pensions, speaking engagements, acting roles, entrepreneurial ventures, and photography.

Social media:

• Twitter: @IamGregGadson
• Instagram: N/A

Filmography

• Battleship (2012) – Lieutenant Colonel Mick Canales
• The Inspectors (2015–2016) – David Cole
• A Journal for Jordan (2021) – (uncredited)
• NCIS: Los Angeles (2022–2023) – Col. Jackson Ladd
• Freedom Isn’t Free (2024 short) – Himself