Name:	Koma Gandy
	Month:	January 2003
	School:	Harvard 1996
	Degree:	BA
	Company:	Booz Allen & Hamilton
	Title:	Senior Consultant

Koma B. Gandy, a native of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts in Government in the winter of 1996, with special emphasis on the political economy of developing countries and information technology growth. She received her commission as an officer in the United States Navy in February of 1996. After working at the Boston University-Massachusetts Institute of Technology NROTC consortium and completing her initial training at Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport, Rhode Island, Ms. Gandy reported aboard the USS Mount Vernon (LSD-39) in San Diego, California, where she earned her warfare qualification. The first female officer to be permanently assigned to a ship of that class, Ms. Gandy served as both the Weapons Officer and Automated Data Processing Officer. As the Weapons Officer, she was responsible for small arms training, ammunition storage and accounting, and ammunition issue for Marines, Navy Special Warfare, and Navy Special Operations elements residing on the ship. Her responsibilities as Automated Data Processing Officer included the upgrade, installation, administration, and security of shipboard networks.

After two years onboard USS Mount Vernon, culminating in a six-month Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf deployment in 1998, Ms. Gandy reported to the staff of Commander, Amphibious Squadron Seven, located on board the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4). She completed a second six-month Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf deployment in 1999. Her duties involved radio frequency management, coordination of logistics supporting installations of communications and information systems aboard three amphibious warfare ships, and systems administration of the squadron's classified network. She completed her active duty career as a Lieutenant with Commander, Amphibious Squadron Seven in October of 2000. In the Naval Reserves, she now serves as the Executive Officer a Beachmaster Unit One Reserve Detachment based out of Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, CA, whose mission is to facilitate amphibious landings on friendly and hostile shores.

Currently, Ms. Gandy is a Senior Consultant at Booz Allen and Hamilton, San Diego. Ms. Gandy uses her fleet experience, operational knowledge of Navy shipboard networks and experience with information systems to provide technical and project management support to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Information Assurance office. Her current areas of concentration include biometric technology and wireless network architecture and security.

In addition to her work responsibilities, Ms. Gandy is an active participant in the USA Rugby community. She is a member of the Southern California Rugby Football Union Women's All-Star Teams, a US Invitational International Touring Team, and recently has been selected to the USA Rugby Women's National Team pool of athletes. She also is part of the leadership of the US Combined Services Women's Rugby community.

Ms. Gandy is also a member of the Junior League of San Diego, and participates on a committee dedicated to working with high school girls in the San Diego area who have been through the probationary system.