Ganpat “Gunner” Wagh, a former U.S. Marine and retired FBI agent, brings decades of service and leadership to his new role as a Non-uniformed Veteran Fellow. With more than 20 years in the FBI, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Gunner has dedicated his career to public safety and national security. Today, he continues this commitment as the Director of Security at Cleveland-Cliffs.
As a Non-uniformed Veteran Fellow, Gunner will draw on his extensive experience to honor those who served and sacrificed during the Global War on Terrorism, while educating future generations about its enduring impact.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself.
I am married with four children, two of whom serve in the U.S. Army. Our son recently transitioned from active duty as a Captain to being assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. He served as an infantry officer and is currently a Ranger School graduate. One of our daughters is a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve, where she serves as a military intelligence officer.
My wife, Ginny, is a Regional Coordinator for the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF), a veteran service organization dedicated to empowering veterans and the families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations. I engage in extensive volunteer work with TMF and serve as a Character Does Matter mentor, a Leading With Your Strengths facilitator, and a graduate of the Spartan Leadership Program. Outside of my volunteer work, I am an avid CrossFit participant and enjoy riding motorcycles.
Q: What inspired you to enlist in the Marine Corps?
I decided to enlist in the Marines primarily because I felt my life needed some direction and focus.
Q: Can you share your experience transitioning to the FBI and any key lessons you learned along the way?
The transition from the Marines and local law enforcement to the FBI was relatively smooth due to the strong presence of former military and local law enforcement personnel. Having peers and mentors who walked the same path helped guide me through the transition. There is also a natural alignment of service to the country when moving from the Marines to the FBI, representing a growth and continuation of the same core values.
During my time at the FBI, I was fortunate to work closely with several Department of Defense (DOD) entities, including the National Security Agency, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. One of the highlights of my career was having the opportunity to deploy to Afghanistan and support the Global War on Terrorism while being embedded with various DOD elements.
Q: What inspired your move into cybersecurity, and what has been most rewarding about this work?
I transitioned into cybersecurity early in my FBI career, following then-FBI Director Robert Mueller’s creation of the FBI Cyber Division and the establishment of Cyber Crime Task Force (CCTFs) in all 56 field offices. I was selected as a CCTF member in the FBI Kansas City Division, which launched my career in cybersecurity.
As with nearly all FBI programs, one of the most rewarding aspects of this work was protecting our community throughout each of our investigations. Additionally, the partnerships we built across federal, state, and local law enforcement, along with our private sector, were instrumental to the success of nearly everything we accomplished.
Q: What does it mean to you to be named a Non-uniformed Veteran Fellow?
Being named a Non-uniformed Veteran Fellow is truly humbling. It is an incredible honor to work alongside the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation as both an ambassador and a member of the Design Advisory Council. Representing my non-uniformed peers is an enormous responsibility that I take seriously, and I’m deeply committed to serving our shared interests to the best of my ability.
It’s a privilege to collaborate the Foundation team as well as my other fellow Operation Jawbreaker Fellows.
Q: Why is the Global War on Terrorism Memorial important to you as a non-uniform service member?
The Global War on Terrorism Memorial holds deep significance for me as a Non-uniformed Veteran Fellow because it recognizes the thousands of us from non-DOD organizations who volunteered to serve alongside U.S. and coalition military partners. Our contributions may not have been in uniform, but we were fully committed to the same shared mission.
Through conversations with countless non-uniformed personnel, a common theme emerged – no matter our role, we were all part of a high-functioning team, united in purpose and service to accomplish the same mission. This Memorial ensured that the sacrifices and unwavering commitment of all those who answered the call are remembered and honored for generations to come.
