Lea Gabrielle
Born
Lea Gabrielle Potts[1]

(1975-03-19) March 19, 1975
Alexandria, Virginia, US[2]
EducationUnited States Naval Academy (1997)[1]
Occupation(s)Journalist and Naval aviator

Lea Gabrielle (born March 19, 1975) is a former U.S. Diplomat who served as the Special Envoy and Coordinator of the Global Engagement Center at the U.S. Department of State from 2019-2021.[3] She formerly served in the United States Navy for twelve years as a combat naval aviator and intelligence officer. As a civilian, she worked as a journalist and correspondent for the Fox News Channel and as a general-assignment reporter for Shepard Smith Reporting. On February 7, 2019, it was announced she would head up the U.S. Department of State's Global Engagement Center (GEC), tasked with countering propaganda from foreign actors such as Russia, China, North Korea, and ISIS. She has served in the position of Special Envoy and Coordinator of the GEC since February 11, 2019.[4]

Background

While attending Mount Vernon High School in Fairfax County, Virginia, Gabrielle was named a finalist in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search.[5][6] She is a 1997 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering.[1] Entering the active-duty Navy after graduation, Gabrielle attended the U.S. Navy Flight School at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida from 1998 to 2000,[1] earning her Naval Aviator Wings. She is also qualified with an instrument rating and as a commercial pilot.[1]

She served in the United States Navy for twelve years and was a naval aviator, flying the single-seat F/A-18 "Hornet," with combat deployment from USS George Washington. Her call sign as a pilot was "Flower".[7] Additional duties were as a landing signal officer (LSO) and as a squadron public affairs officer.[1] She became the subject of a Field Naval Aviator Evaluation Board (FNAEB) following a mishap in the F/A-18. Though allowed to continue wearing her Naval Aviator Wings, she had her qualification rescinded, thus serving out her remaining commitment in non-flying roles. She also served as an intelligence operations officer during Operation Enduring Freedom,[8] and while in Afghanistan, she was embedded with a Navy SEAL unit conducting intelligence operations.[8] She was also a defense foreign liaison officer.[1]

Journalism career

After leaving the navy, Gabrielle attended the New York Film Academy in 2009, receiving a digital journalism certificate.[1] She then worked for NBC News (2010-2011) in Washington, D.C.[9] where she shot, wrote, edited, and produced packages for NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, NBC websites, and web spots. As a digital journalist and editor (Avid), Gabrielle covered stories for the NBC Nightly News web page and nationwide NBC affiliates. She conducted interviews for White House and Political Correspondents and Nightly News (including the President, the first female governor in Afghanistan, and GOP Presidential nominees).[1]

In September 2011, Gabrielle moved to San Diego, California, and became a military reporter for KNSD-TV (NBC 7),[9] using the name Lea Sutton.[10] She joined Fox News Channel in New York City in December 2013.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Lea Gabrielle Potts Linked-In webpage
  2. ↑ Capital Gazette.com, Midshipman 4th Class Lea Potts stands at attention December 13, 1993 Archived June 13, 2014, at archive.today
  3. ↑ "Lea Gabrielle". US Department of State. Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Lea Gabrielle - United States Department of State". United States Department of State. November 2, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  5. ↑ Tousignant, Marylou (January 25, 1993). "Young Bright Bulbs Make Area Shine in Science Contest". The Washington Post. pp. D01. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Washington-Area Students Take Lead in Annual Science Awards". The New York Times. January 27, 1993. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Naval Academy grad and fighter pilot newest Fox...on Fox". Baltimore Sun Talk Forums. December 29, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Life Changers - Lea Sutton, NBC 7 San Diego Reporter & Former Navy Fighter Pilot Archived 2014-03-05 at the Wayback Machine
  9. 1 2 3 "Lea Gabrielle". Fox News.
  10. ↑ "New Legislation Aims to Keep Military Spouses Employed". NBC 7 San Diego. April 6, 2013.

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