About Gary
A Life of Leadership – A Story of Service – A History of Honor
WHO I AM
I have been a U.S. Marine since I was 19 and an attorney since I was 24, accomplishing what I dreamed of doing since I was a teenager. I am a father, husband, business owner, attorney, U.S. Marine Corps Colonel, combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, active member of my church and community, and resident of Nashua. These roles define who I am, what my values are and why I seek to serve you as your state senator in Concord.
WHY I WANT TO SERVE YOU AS YOUR STATE SENATOR
I have been privileged to serve this great nation and its people for over 30 years of continuous active service, on active duty and in the reserve, in the U.S. Marine Corps. First as an officer candidate in 1979 and as a colonel since 2003, I have served my country during times of peace and in combat in Iraq. While I have enjoyed serving my country as a U.S. Marine for over 30 years and serving my clients as an attorney for over 26 years, I now feel called to a different form of service to my country, the people of New Hampshire and the residents of Nashua. As such, I respectfully request the honor and privilege of being your State Senator for Senate District No. 13 (Nashua Wards 3,4,6,7 and 8).
My wife, Lori, and I have been married for over 15 years and we have two children, Katherine, 14, and Grace, 9. We live near Greeley Park in a neighborhood full of friends. Lori is a partner in the investment advisory firm of Weisman, Tessier, Lambert & Halloran in Nashua. Katherine is a freshman at Bishop Guertin High School and Grace is in the fourth grade at St. Christopher School in Nashua. I was born and raised in a loving, God-fearing, modest and middle-class family that lived below their means. My father and mother both experienced poverty during their childhood. My father was one of eight children who grew up in a rural community during the Great Depression. My mother and her family endured the ravages of World War II in Lithuania and Germany. She, and those of her family who survived, arrived in America as immigrants carrying all they owned in suitcases. I was the first person in my family to attend college.
WHY YOU SHOULD ELECT ME AS YOUR STATE SENATOR
I believe I am uniquely qualified to be your state senator for the following reasons:
- Public Service. A state senator is a public servant. If elected, I will never forget that I serve you because I have been serving this country in war and peace as a U.S. Marine since I was 19 years old. Since I am 50 years old now, you can count on me to continue with this life mission. In addition to my service to my country, my wife, Lori, and I have been and are committed to the service of our community through active participation in our church, civic groups, and non-profit organizations and our encouragement of such service to our two children, Katherine and Grace.
- Performance. Ever since I joined the Marine Corps at age 19, I performed to the best of my ability and received promotions in rank as soon as I was “in zone” for promotion. In 2003, I was promoted to the rank of colonel at the young age of 43. In addition to my 30+ year Marine Corps career, I have been a successful attorney for more than 26 years and a small business owner and employer for over 20 years. During 2004-05, I served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as the No. 2 and, at times the No. 1, military lawyer in Iraq in my position as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate of the Multi-National Force – Iraq and its Commanding General, General George Casey. General Casey awarded me the Bronze Star Medal for my service in Iraq. I believe this record demonstrates that you can count on me to perform well as your state senator in Concord.
- Economics. As the owner of a successful and profitable law firm for over 20 years, I know what it takes to run a small business, make payroll, and be an employer. On the flip side, in order to pay for college and law school, I’ve been an employee in jobs ranging from grocery store clerk, meat cutter, dishwasher, McDonald’s grillman and fryman (that’s what we were called in the 1970s), security guard, musician, laboratory assistant, wood cutter, bee keeper, electrician’s helper, mechanic and laborer, to name a few. For over 30 years, I’ve been an “employee” of the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in every officer rank from Second Lieutenant to Colonel. I understand how the economy works.
- I’m an Attorney. You are sending your state senator to Concord for one reason: to draft, pass and vote in favor of laws beneficial to the citizens of the 13th State Senatorial District, Nashua and New Hampshire. I have continuously studied and practiced law for the past 29 years and have served as a federal criminal prosecutor, defense attorney, civil litigator, business advisor and intellectual property attorney. I have lived the law for most of my adult life, understand it well and can be counted on to draft, pass and vote for legislation that is well written, useful and beneficial to your interests. Additionally, I am a patent attorney registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Washington, DC. I deal with new ideas, discoveries, technologies and innovative people every day. I intend to bring my innovative nature to bear on fixing the problems facing the state.
-Security and Defense. I have spent the last 30 years of my life studying and living the profession of arms, national security and strategy. I was awarded a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. I graduated from the U.S. Army War College, the U.S. Air War College and from the reserve strategy and policy, national security decision making and joint military operations courses at the U.S. Naval War College. Additionally, I am a graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Command and Staff College, the U.S. Marine Corps’ Amphibious Warfare School, the U.S. Marine Corps’ Commanders Course and the U.S. Army’s Airborne “Jump” School. Furthermore, as noted above, I am a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I understand homeland defense and can be counted on to have the education, knowledge, experience and judgment necessary for issues involving the security of our state.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ME
Civilian Profession. Owner of Lambert & Associates; law firm specializing in patent, trademark, and copyright law and litigation; offices in Nashua and Boston. Registered Patent Attorney, licensed by U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Washington, DC. Attorney since 1984.
Military Profession. Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (Ret.). Retired October 1, 2009 after over 30 years of active duty and active reserve service. Joined Marine Corps in 1979 at age 19.
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- Deputy Staff Judge Advocate (“Number Two” coalition military lawyer in Iraq), Multi-National Force – Iraq, Camp Victory, Baghdad (2004-2005)
- President, Combined Multi-National Force and Iraq Ministries of Justice, Interior and Human Rights’ Detainee Review Board, Baghdad, Iraq (2004-2005)
- Awarded the Bronze Star Medal (2005)
- Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Military Coordination and Liaison Command, Stuttgart, Germany during initial invasion of Iraq (2003).
Marine Corps Assignments.
- Staff Judge Advocate, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Individual Mobilization Augmentation (IMA) Detachment, Camp Lejeune, NC (2000-2005, 2009)
- Assistant Chief of Staff, G-7 (Special Operations Training Group, Liaison Teams, Simulations,
Consequence Management), II Marine Expeditionary Force, IMA, Camp Lejeune, NC (2007-2008)
- Branch Head, Manpower & Reserve Affairs, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps (2005-2007)
- Intellectual Property Attorney, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, (1997-2000)
- Various billets within the 25th Marine Infantry Regiment, Fort Devens, MA (1987-1997)(to include Executive Officer, Rifle Company “B”, 1st Battaion/25th Marines, Manchester, NH)
- Criminal Defense Attorney, Camp Lejeune, NC (1986-87)
- Criminal Prosecuting Attorney, Okinawa, Japan (1985-86)
New Hampshire Bar Honors. Recipient, New Hampshire Bar Association’s 2005 Distinguished Service to the Public Award (awarded to all military NH bar members who served on active duty since 9-11)
Civilian Education and Degrees.
B.S., Chemistry and Biology, Valparaiso University, 1981
J.D. with Honors, Drake University Law School, 1984
Managing Editor, Drake Law Review, 1983-84
M.S., Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, 2003
Military Education.
U.S. Army War College, 2003
U.S. Air War College, 2000
U.S. Naval War College
- Reserve Officer National Security Decision Making Course, 2007
- Reserve Officer Joint Military Operations Course, 2005
- Reserve Officer Strategy and Policy Course, 2004
U.S. Marine Corps Commanders Course, 2006
National Defense University, Reserve Components National Security Course, 1999, 2009
U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, 1996
U.S. Army Airborne “Jump” School, 1991
U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School, 1990
Military Decorations and Awards.
Bronze Star Medal, 2005
Meritorious Service Medal, 2000, 2007
Iraq Campaign Medal, 2005
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, 2004
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, 2004
National Defense Service Medal, 1991, 2003
Church and Community Involvement.
The First Church, Nashua
Greater Nashua Mental Health Center, Board of Directors, Chair, Veterans/Military Committee
Nashua Rotary
Nashua Chamber of Commerce
American Legion, Coffey Post 3, Nashua
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 483, Nashua
Nashua Fish and Game Association
National Associations
National Rifle Association, Life Member
Ducks Unlimited
Navy Mutual Aid Association, Nonresident Director
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
Naval War College Foundation, Life Member
Marine Corps Reserve Association, Life Member
Recreational Licenses
Registered Master Maine Guide
Licensed New Hampshire Hunting Guide
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